STATIVE VERBS

STATIVE VERBS....

Some English verbs, which we call state, non-continuous or stative verbs, aren't used in continuous tenses (like the present continuous, or the future continuous). These verbs often describe states that last for some time. Here is a list of some common ones:

A verb which isn't stative is called a dynamic verb, and is usually an action.

like	know	belong
love	realise	fit
hate	suppose	contain
want	mean	consist
need	understand	seem
prefer	believe	depend
agree	remember	matter
mind	recognise	see
own	appear	look (=seem)
sound	taste	smell
hear	astonish	deny
disagree	please	impress
satisfy	promise	surprise
doubt	think (=have an opinion)	feel (=have an opinion)
wish	imagine	concern
dislike	be	have
deserve	involve	include
lack	measure (=have length etc)	possess
owe	weigh (=have weight)

A verb which isn't stative is called a dynamic verb, and is usually an action.

Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic:

Be

be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous it means 'behaving' or 'acting' you are stupid = it's part of your personality you are being stupid = only now, not usually

Think

think (stative) = have an opinion I think that coffee is great think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head what are you thinking about? I'm thinking about my next holiday

Have

have (stative) = own I have a car have (dynamic) = part of an expression I'm having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break

See

see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand I see what you mean I see her now, she's just coming along the road see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with I've been seeing my boyfriend for three years I'm seeing Robert tomorrow

Taste

taste (stative) = has a certain taste This soup tastes great The coffee tastes really bitter taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting The chef is tasting the soup ('taste' is the same as other similar verbs such as 'smell')

Choose the present simple or present continuous (these verbs are sometimes stative): 

1. She _____________ (have) a bath every evening. 
2. My husband _____________ (always / taste) the food while I’m cooking! It’s 
very annoying. 
3. A: Where’s Luke? 
B: He _____________ (see) the doctor now. 
4. I _____________ (not / think) that’s a good idea. 
5. He _____________ (have) a party at the weekend. 
6. This coffee _____________ (not / taste) right. 
7. We _____________ (see) John and Susie next weekend.
8. What _____________ (you / think) about the war in Iraq? 
9. She _____________ (have) a headache. 
10. It _____________ (be) cold today. 
11. They _____________ (not / have) a car. 
12. I _____________ (not / see) anything, I can’t work the telescope. 
13. The waiter _____________ (taste) the wine now. 
14. She _____________ (not / be) a doctor. 
15. A: What _____________ (that child / do)? 
B: He _____________ (be) silly. 
16. _____________ (you / be) hungry? _____________ (you / want) a sandwich? 
17. A: What _____________ (you / do)? 
B: I _____________ (think) about my ex-boyfriend. 
18. I _____________ (have) fun today! 
19. I _____________ (see) Julie every Tuesday. 
20. I _____________ (have) an idea! 
21. A: Achoo! 
B: Bless you! _____________ (you / have) a cold? 
22. They often _____________ (see) a film on Fridays. 
23. A: How’s the cake? 
B: It _____________ (taste) funny. 
24. _____________ (you / have) a good time at the moment? © 2008 www.perfect-english-grammar.com 
May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.
25. The chef always _____________ (taste) the food before he serves it. 
26. A: Julie has been offered a new job. 
B: Is she going to take it? 

A: She _____________ (not / know). She _____________ (think) about it. 

INFO FROM:

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com