Stative Verbs
What is a stative verb?
A stative verb, also state verb, is not used in the progressive tenses, even when talking about a temporary or current situation. They express a long-term state or a quality that does not change easily. Stative verbs therefore refer to the senses, feelings and emotions, long-term states, and characteristics. Learn more about stative verbs with Lingolia’s quick and easy examples, then put your knowledge to the test in the exercises.
Example
Kathy is having a dinner party tomorrow and she wants to make sure that there is enough food. She has already baked a chocolate cake and a lemon cake so the kitchen smells fantastic. Normally everyone loves her baking, but today her chocolate cake hasn’t turned out well. She can’t understand why exactly, it just doesn’t taste right. Kathy thinks it’s always good to have several options for her guests, so she is thinking about making some biscuits too. She prefers making cheesecake, but it would take too long. She can hear the oven timer – her main course is ready, hopefully it looks better than her chocolate cake!
How to learn stative verbs?
The best way to learn stative verbs is to learn them by heart, which can be tricky. To make it easier, we have divided the stative verbs into different categories in the table at the bottom of the page.
While you’re still learning, a handy trick for the beginning is to think of stative verbs as verbs that come from the head or from the heart. This will help you to remember some of the most common stative verbs.
| Fromthehead | Fromtheheart |
| be | dislike |
| believe | hate |
| know | like |
| mean | love |
| think | prefer |
| understand | want |
Stativeverbsandchangingconventions
As a rule, stative verbs should not be used in the progressive tenses. However, conventions are changing. Like with the verbs look and feel, in spoken English many stative verbs (particularly those related to feelings) are used in the progressive forms with no change in meaning. It is common to hear sentences such as:
Examples:
I’m loving it.
I’m liking this attitude!
I’m hating my job at the moment.
They’re not understanding your point.
These sentences are, of course, grammatically incorrect, but are still frequently used by native speakers.
Stative verbs by category
In addition to the head/heart categories, we can organise the stative verbs into more groups to help with the learning process. Note: the verbs marked with * can be used in the progressive form but with a different meaning. For more on this, see the table below.
Stative verbs for qualities and states
As their name indicates, stative verbs refer to states, qualities and characteristics. These are things that are either permanent or not easily subject to change.
Examples:
The chocolate cake contains nuts.
not: The chocolate cake is containing nuts.
The baking sheet belongs to Tricia.
not: The baking sheet is belonging to Tricia.
Theseverbsinclude:
- be*
- belong
- consist
- contain
- fit
- have*
- include
- involve
- lack
- matter
- measure*
- need
- owe
- own
- possess
- weigh*
Stativeverbsforfeelings
Stative verbs express feelings, emotions and preferences.
Examples:
She wants to make sure that there is enough food.
She prefers making cheesecake to biscuits.
Typical stative verbs for feelings and emotions include:
- agree/disagree
- like/dislike
- love/hate
- mind
- prefer
- want
- wish
Stative verbs for opinions and thoughts
We use stative verbs to express thoughts and opinions.
Examples:
She can’t understand why exactly.
Kathy thinks it is always better to have more options.
Typical stative verbs for opinions include:
- believe
- feel*
- know
- mean
- remember
- suppose
- think*
- understand
Stativeverbsforthesenses
Verbs related to the senses and perception are often stative.
Examples:
The kitchen smells fantastic.
It just doesn’t taste right.
Hopefully it looks better than her chocolate cake.
The stative verbs for the senses include:
- appear
- hear
- look*
- see*
- seem
- sound
- smell*
- taste*
The verbs see, taste, hear and smell are combined with the modal verb can to express a progressive meaning.
Example:
She can hear the oven timer.
can indicates that the timer is ringing at the moment of speaking.
Other stative verbs
Other common verbs that are stative include:
- astonish
- concern
- depend
- deserve
- impress
- please
- promise
- satisfy
- surprise
Stative verbs that also have a progressive form
The stative verbs above marked with (*) can also be used in the progressive form, usually with a change of meaning. Seethetablebelowforexamples.
| SimpleForm | ProgressiveForm | |||
| Verb | Meaning | Example | Meaning | Example |
| be | state/quality | By nature Adam is a selfish guy. | behaving/acting in an out-of-character manner | Why are you being so selfish? |
| have | possession | The house has a big kitchen. | particularexpressions | I’m having a great time. Kathy is having a dinner party tomorrow. |
| feel | physical/mentalcondition | I feel better. | physical/mentalcondition | I’mfeeling better. |
| opinion (feelthat) | I felt that the meeting was successful. | |||
| look | currentappearance | You look goodtoday. | currentappearance | You’relooking goodtoday. |
| measure | size | The garden measures around 300 square metres. | action | I’m measuring the distance from the kitchen to the door. |
| see | sight | I can see the stars. | romanticrelationship | We’ve been seeing each other for a few months. |
| understand | I see your point of view. | have an appointment in the future | I’m seeing a friend after work. | |
| smell | sense | Thecake smells fantastic. | action | I’m smelling the roses while I can. |
| taste | sense | Thecake tastes fantastic. | action of trying food/drink | Today we are tasting some wines for the wedding. |
| think | believe | Kathy thinks it’s always good to have options. | action (thinkabout) | She is thinking about making some biscuits. |
| weigh | howheavy | The baby weighs eight pounds. | action | She is weighing the flour for the cake. |
Stative verbs in other structures
Remember, stative verbs can be used in the -ing form in other grammatical structures such as after a preposition or as a gerund at the beginning of a sentence.
Examples:
He’s good at seeming innocent, but actually he’s horrible.
Knowing him as I do, I don’t think he will stay here.
Упражнение 1. Раскройтескобки, употребляяглаголыв Present Continuous илив Present Simple.
- I (not to know) what to give my brother for his birthday.
- They (to want) to publish this book in July?
- He (to understand) that he (to eat) noisily, but he always (to forget) about it.
- Your family (to leave) St. Petersburg in summer? — Yes, we always (to go) to the seaside. Weall (tolike) thesea.
- Now I (to hate) him more than ever.
- You (to want) to see my father? — Yes, I (to need) him at the moment very much.
- He (to learn) English because he (to want) to get a better job.
- I (to call) my son in Cedar Falls now. I (to want) to call him every month but it (to be) very expensive.
- You (to hear) me now? How your job (to go)? — Great! I (to enjoy) it a lot.
- She (to want) to impress everybody.
- Listen to Greg! You (to understand) what language he (speak)?
- We (to know) he never (to be) late for work.
- Don’t disturb him. He just (to work) at his English. I (to hope) his English (to improve).
- I (not to like) to watch TV very often. But at the moment I (to enjoy) my favourite film.
* * *
Глаголы, которые не употребляются в длительных временах. Упражнения (уровень второй)
Упражнение 2. Раскройте скобки, употребляя глаголы в PresentContinuous или в PresentSimple.
- You (to realize) that we are having a test tomorrow?
- If you (not to watch) the news, I’d change the channel.
- You can borrow my dictionary. I (not to need) it at the moment.
- George says that he has a note from the doctor but I (not to believe) him.
- Who (to be) that man who (to stand) in the doorway? — You (not to recognize) him? It (tobe) John, mycousin.
- I haven’t got your idea. Whatyou (tomean)?
- I (to wish) you good luck.
- I can’t say that I still (to love) her.
- Why you (to want) to know all details?
- How many new words you (to remember)?
- This car (to belong ) to you now?
- Michael (to know) German rather well. He (to want) to know English, too, but he (to have) little time for it now.
* * *