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 is not 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 with us. | She wasn’t agreeing with us. |
| appear | It appears to be raining. | It is appearing to be raining. |
| believe | I don’t believe the news. | I am not believing the news. |
| belong | This book belonged to me. | This book was belonging to my |
| concern | This concerns you. | This is concerning you. |
| consist | Bread consists of flour, waterand yeast. | Bread is consisting of flour, waterand yeast. |
| contain | This box contains a cake. | This box is containing a cake. |
| depend | It depends on the weather. | It’s depending on the weather. |
| deserve | He deserves to pass the exam. | He is deserving to pass the exam. |
| disagree | I disagree with you. | I am disagreeing with you. |
| dislike | I have disliked mushrooms for | I have been disliking mushroomsfor years. |
| doubt | I doubt what you are saying. | I am doubting what you are |
| feel (=havean opinion) | I don’t feel that this is a good | I am not feeling that this is a good |
| fit | This shirt fits me well. | This shirt is fitting me well. |
| hate | Julie’s always hated dogs. | Julie’s always been hating dogs. |
| hear | Do you hear music? | Are you hearing music? |
| imagine | I imagine you must be tired. | I am imagining you must be tired. |
| impress | He impressed me with his story. | He was impressing me with his |
| include | This cookbook includes a recipefor bread. | This cookbook is including arecipe for bread. |
| involve | The job involves a lot of | The job is involving a lot of |
| know | I’ve known Julie for ten years. | I’ve been knowing Julie for ten |
| like | I like reading detective stories. | I am liking reading detective |
| love | I love chocolate. | I’m loving chocolate.* |
| matter | It doesn’t matter. | It isn’t mattering. |
| mean | ‘Enormous’ means ‘very big’. | ‘Enormous’ is meaning ‘very big’. |
| measure (=belong) | This window measures 150cm. | This window is measuring |
| mind | She doesn’t mind the noise. | She isn’t minding the noise. |
| need | At three o’clock yesterday Ineeded a taxi. | At three o’clock yesterday I wasneeding a taxi. |
| owe | I owe you £20. | I am owing you £20. |
| own | She owns two cars. | She is owning two cars. |
| prefer | I prefer chocolate ice cream. | I am preferring chocolate ice |
| promise | I promise to help you tomorrow. | I am promising to help you |
| realise | I didn’t realise the problem. | I wasn’t realising the problem. |
| recognise | I didn’t recognise my old friend. | I wasn’t recognising my old |
| remember | He didn’t remember my name. | He wasn’t remembering my name. |
| seem | The weather seems to be | The weather is seeming to be |
| sound | Your idea sounds great. | Your idea is sounding great. |
| suppose | I suppose John will be late. | I’m supposing John will be late. |
| surprise | The noise surprised me. | The noise was surprising me. |
| understand | I don’t understand this question. | I’m not understanding this question. |
| want | I want to go to the cinema | I am wanting to go to the cinema |
| weigh (=haveweight) | This cake weighs 450g. | This cake is weighing 450g. |
| wish | I wish I had studied more. | I am wishing 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 the continuous itmeans ‘behaving’ or ‘acting’you are stupid = it’s part of your personalityyou are being stupid = only now, not usually
|
| have | have (stative) = ownI have a carhave (dynamic) = part of an expressionI’m having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break
|
| see | see (stative) = see with your eyes / understandI see what you meanI see her now, she’s just coming along the roadsee (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with
I’ve been seeing my boyfriend for three years I’m seeing Robert tomorrow
|
| taste (also:smell, feel,look) | taste (stative) = has a certain tasteThis soup tastes greattaste (dynamic) = the action of tastingThe chef is tasting the soup
|
| think | think (stative) = have an opinionI think that coffee is greatthink (dynamic) = consider, have in my headwhat are you thinking about? I’m thinking about my next holiday
|
Stative Verb Exercises
Choose the present simple or present continuous. This exercise includes the verbs see, think, have, be, and taste, which 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. Luke ____________________ (see) the doctor now.
4. He ______________________ (have) a party next weekend.
5. This coffee _________________ (not/taste) right.
6. We _______________ (see) John and Susie next month.
7. What __________________ (you/think) about the war?
8. She _______________ (have) a headache.
9. It ______________ (be) cold today.
10. They _____________ (not/have) a car
11. I _______________ (not/see) anything, I can´t work the telescope.
12. The waiter ____________ taste the wine now.
13. She ______________ (not/be) a doctor.
14. _________________ (want) a sandwich?
15. I _________________ (have) fun today.
16. I _________________ (think) too much about my ex-girlfriend.
17. They often _______________ (see) a film on Fridays.
18. This cake ______________ (taste) funny.
19. ___________________ (have) a good time at the moment.
20. The chef always ______________ (taste) the food before he serves it.
professorca 