Hi, in today’s lesson you will be learning about stative or state verbs.
What are they are and how to use them.
Keep watching until the end when there will be a short quiz to see how much you’ve learned.
So first up, what is a stative or state verb?
They mean the same.
A stative verb is one that, as the name suggests, describes a state and not an action
and most importantly aren't usually used in a continuous form.
So, stative verbs often refer to
thoughts and opinions such as the verbs agree, believe, doubt, guess,
imagine, know, mean, recognise, realise, remember, suspect, think, understand
For example: I don't know the answer. Not I'm not knowing the answer.
or
My parents understood everything. Not my parents were understanding everything.
Stative verbs are used with feelings and emotions also such as dislike, hate, like,
love, prefer, want, wish, need, and matter.
So, you say, I’m hungry. I want something to eat.
Not I’m hungry. I’m wanting something to eat.
They are also used to describe how things are or seem to be.
So verbs such as appear, resemble, suppose, exist, be, feel, hear, look, see, seem, smell, taste
These flowers are beautiful.
Not The flowers are being beautiful.
Everything seems fine.
Not everything is seeming fine.
Also, your friend appears to be nervous
and not your friend is appearing to be nervous.
Stative verbs often show possession, measurement and inclusion and include verbs such as
belong, have, measure, own, possess, weigh, include, contains, consist of, fit.
For example: That old suitcase belongs to me, and not, “That old suitcase is belonging to me.”
Or
The city guide contains useful information,
and not, “The city guide is containing useful information. “
And finally, stative verbs are used with relationships.
For example, I appreciate all your help and not I am appreciating all your help.
Many verbs can act as both action verbs and state verbs depending on the context.
So, for example: have
You could say, "I have an old car." This is expressing a state of possession
so we use the present simple.
Whereas, I'm having a quick break.
Here we use the present continuous
and it's describing an action, it is an action in progress.
So, it's not a stative verb.
Let’s look at 2 examples with the verb see
Do you see any problems with that? Here we are describing a state – an opinion
So we use the present simple
Whereas, we're seeing Chris tomorrow afternoon.
is describing an action – like we're meeting him tomorrow afternoon.
Now the verb to be
We can say, He's so interesting! This is describing a state,
his permanent quality so we use the present simple.
Whereas if we say, "He's being very unhelpful."
This is describing an action – as if he is temporarily behaving this way.
Now the verb, taste.
This coffee tastes delicious. This is describing a state.
It is describing our perception of the coffee.
Whereas if we say, "Look! The chef is tasting the soup."
Here we are describing the action of tasting the soup.
Now weigh
The box weighs 2 kilos. This is describing a state, a permanent quality.
Whereas if we say, "They weighed the parcel at the post office."
This is describing an action,
So, we can use the continuous form here.
The verb think,
I think it's a good idea. This is describing a state, an opinion.
So we can use the present simple.
Whereas if we say, "Wait a moment! I'm thinking." This is describing the action of thinking.
So we can use a continuous form.
Be careful, some verbs usually considered stative verbs can be used in the continuous form.
For example: You can use want and mean in the present perfect continuous.
I’ve been meaning to phone you.... this is describing an action of meaning or intending to phone you...
but not actually getting round to it. It is more of an expression
but interestingly uses the continuous form with mean.
Also, I’ve been wanting to buy these shoes for weeks.
Again, want isn't usually used in the continuous form but here the present perfect continuous form is correct.
So now it’s your turn; Fill in the gaps with options a or b.
Remember a stative verb generally can’t be used in a continuous form
and if, in the context, it is describing an action it can’t be a stative verb.
1. Are you making dinner? It _____ amazing.
a. smells
b. 's smelling
Smells. This is a state, so we use the present simple.
2. I _____ they'll be here quite soon.
a. imagine
b. 'm imagining
Imagine. Again a stative verb is required as it is expressing an opinion.
3. I _____ lunch with Freddie later today.
a. have
b. 'm having
‘m having as this is describing the action of having lunch.
4. i'm sorry, I _____.
a. don't understand
b. 'm not understanding
I don’t understand... this a stative verb as it is describing a state, describing your thoughts.
5. Jo thinks it's a good idea, and Lilly _____.
a. agrees
b. 's agreeing
Agrees as again it is describing a state or an opinion.
6. I _____ this mango to see if it's ready to eat.
a. feel
b. 'm feeling
‘m feeling as this is describing the action of feeling the mango.
7. Do you know what I _____?
a. mean
b. 'm meaning
Mean as it expressing a state, an opinion.
8. She _____ the doctor at 3 p.m. today.
a. sees
b. 's seeing
Write your answer down below and I promise to give you feedback on your answer.
So that’s it for today.
I hope you feel more confident using stative verbs.
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Take care and see you very soon!