Admin
Stative
Verbs List
Some verbs are only (or mostly) used in simple tenses, and are not
used in continuous tenses. An
example of a simple tense is the present simple, or the past simple. An example of a continuous tense is the
present continuous or past continuous. These
verbs are called stative, or state verbs. A verb which isn’t stative is
called a dynamic verb, and is usually
an action. Often stative verbs are about liking or disliking something, or about a mental
state, not about an action.
|
Verb
|
Correct
|
Not Correct
|
|
agree
|
She didn’t agree
|
|
|
appear
|
It appears to be raining.
|
|
|
believe
|
I don’t believe the news.
|
|
|
belong
|
This book belonged to my
grandfather.
|
|
|
concern
|
This concerns you.
|
|
|
consist
|
Bread consists of flour, water
and yeast.
|
|
|
contain
|
This box contains a cake.
|
|
|
depend
|
It depends on the weather.
|
|
|
deserve
|
He deserves to pass the exam.
|
|
|
disagree
|
I disagree with you.
|
|
|
dislike
|
I have disliked mushrooms for
years.
|
|
|
doubt
|
I doubt what you are saying.
|
|
|
feel (=have
an opinion)
|
I don’t feel that this is a
idea.
|
|
|
fit
|
This shirt fits
|
|
|
hate
|
Julie’s always hated
|
|
|
hear
|
Do you hear
|
|
|
imagine
|
I imagine you must be tired.
|
|
|
impress
|
He impressed me with his story.
|
|
|
include
|
This cookbook includes a recipe
for bread.
|
|
|
involve
|
The job involves a lot of
travelling.
|
|
|
know
|
I’ve known Julie
|
|
|
like
|
I like reading detective stories.
|
|
|
love
|
I love chocolate.
|
|
|
matter
|
It doesn’t matter.
|
|
|
mean
|
‘Enormous’ means ‘very
|
|
|
measure (=be
long)
|
This window
|
|
|
mind
|
She doesn’t mind the noise.
|
|
|
need
|
At three o’clock
needed a taxi.
|
|
|
owe
|
I owe you £20.
|
|
|
own
|
She owns two cars.
|
|
|
prefer
|
I prefer chocolate ice cream.
|
|
|
promise
|
I promise
|
|
|
realise
|
I didn’t realise the problem.
|
|
|
recognise
|
I didn’t recognise my old friend.
|
|
|
remember
|
He didn’t remember my name.
|
|
|
seem
|
The weather seems
improving.
|
|
|
sound
|
Your idea sounds
|
|
|
suppose
|
I suppose John
|
|
|
surprise
|
The noise surprised me.
|
|
|
understand
|
I don’t understand this question.
|
|
|
want
|
I want to go to the cinema
tonight.
|
|
|
weigh (=have
weight)
|
This cake
|
|
|
wish
|
I wish I had studied more.
|
|
Some verbs can be both stative
and dynamic:
|
be
|
be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in
you are stupid = it’s part of your
you are being stupid
|
|
have
|
have (stative) = own I have a car
have (dynamic) = part of an expression
I’m having
|
|
see
|
see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand I see what
I see her now, she’s just coming along the road see (dynamic) = meet / have a
I’m seeing Robert
|
|
taste (also: smell,
|
taste (stative) = has a certain taste
taste (dynamic) = the action
The chef
|
|
think
|
think (stative) = have an opinion I think
think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head
what are you thinking about? I’m thinking about my next holiday
|
