STATIVE VERBS

They are verbs which are not used in continuous tenses. These verbs often describe states that last for some time.

WHAT ARE STATIVE VERBS?

like know love hate want need prefer agree mind own sound hear disagree satisfy doubt wish dislike deserve lack owe realise suppose mean understand believe remember recognise appear taste astonish please promise think (=have an opinion) imagine be involve weigh (=have weight fit seem see

belong contain consist depend matter look (=seem) smell deny impress surprise feel (=have an opinion) concern have include

measure (=have length etc) possess

Here are some examples, showing that these words cannot be used in the progressive form.
Correct : "I like chocolate, but I prefer cake." Incorrect: "I'm liking chocolate but I'm preferring cake."
Correct : "I don't understand you when you speak quickly." Incorrect: "I'm not understanding you when you speak quickly."

DYNAMIC VERBS

 They are verbs which describes an action rather than a state. Dynamic verbs are sometimes known as "action verbs."

WHAT ARE DYNAMIC VERBS? write become

run Read sleep eat walk learn grow go talk
I can't talk right now, I'm eating dinner." Present progressive used to describe an action happening now.
"Sorry, I'm out of breath because I've been running." Present perfect progressive used to describe an action that started in the past, continued for some time and has results now. "I didn't steal the necklace! I was sleeping when someone broke into the shop!" Past progressive used to talk about an action that was happening at a particular time in the past.

SOME VERBS CAN BE BOTH:

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

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 (stative) = own

I have a car

HAVE (dynamic) = part of an expression

I'm having a party /a break/ a picnic /good time

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 (stative) = has a certain taste (when you talk about flavors)
This soup tastes great The coffee tastes really bitter amargo

TASTE (dynamic) = the action of tasting

The chef is tasting the soup 'TASTE' is the same as other similar verbs such as 'SMELL' Me da igual enojado

DONT MIND (stative) = Here, mind means "be bothered by", which is a state of mind, not an
action. Therefore, it is stative. "I don't mind if we watch a movie tonight."

DONT MIND (dynamic) = Here, minding means "looking after" and is therefore a process and a
dynamic verb.

"I'm not being nosy. I'm minding my own business!"

entrometido

REMINDER: Actions that are in progress now => PRESENT PROGRESSIVE OR CONTINUOUS Example: We are walking right now.

States that occurs => SIMPLE PRESENT

Example: We want to walk now.

EXERCISES
COMPLETE THE SENTENCES BY USING STATIVE AND DYNAMIC VERBS.
1. Actually, that SOUNDS 2. We ARE COOKING 3. I PROMISE (sound) wonderful. 6. DO you HEAR (you, hear) Richard's voice now?

(cook) right now.

(promise) to be back soon.

7. ARE you STUDYNG (you, study) at the moment?

pretender

4. Frank and his wife DISAGREE this matter.

5. He OWNS

(disagree) on

8. I DONT MEAN (not mean) to hurt you. 9. DO you MIND (mind) taking out the garbage? 10. I seriously DOUBT (doubt) it.

(own) several large companies.