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What are stative verbs? Lots of clear explanations and exercises.

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Stative vs dynamic verbs (or non-action vs action verbs) - Test-English

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Learn which verbs are stative and cannot be used in continuous forms and which verbs are dynamic, also called action verbs, with our clear explanation and exercises.

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Look at these examples to see how stative verbs are used.

I think that's a good idea.
I love this song!
That coffee smells good.
Do you have a pen?

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

Stative verbs describe a state rather than an action. They aren't usually used in the present continuous form.

I don't know the answer. I'm not knowing the answer.
She really likes you.She's really liking you.
He seems happy at the moment.He's seeming happy at the moment.

Stative verbs often relate to:

Verbs that are sometimes stative

A number of verbs can refer to states or actions, depending on the context.

I think it's a good idea.
Wait a moment! I'm thinking.

The first sentence expresses an opinion. It is a mental state, so we use present simple. In the second example the speaker is actively processing thoughts about something. It is an action in progress, so we use present continuous.

Some other examples are:

I have an old car. (state - possession)
I'm having a quick break. (action - having a break is an activity)

Do you see any problems with that? (state - opinion)
We're seeing Tadanari tomorrow afternoon. (action - we're meeting him)

He's so interesting! (state - his permanent quality)
He's being very unhelpful. (action - he is temporarily behaving this way)

This coffee tastes delicious. (state - our perception of the coffee)
Look! The chef is tasting the soup. (action - tasting the soup is an activity)

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Language level

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Do you know how to use stative verbs like think, love, smell and have? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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Join a game of kahoot here. Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn – any subject, in any language, on any device, for all ages!

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Kahoot Present simple vs present continuous 4

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Kahoot Present simple vs present continuous 4

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Join a game of kahoot here. Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn - any subject, in any language, on any device, for all ages!

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We use the present continuous (am/is/are + -ing) to talk about temporary things which have begun but haven't finished. They are often happening now, at this moment.
Here are some examples of things happening now.
I'm just uploading some photos to Facebook and I'm sending a message to Billie.
We're all riding camels and the sun's shining.
They're waiting for me to get off the phone!
I'm not sure what ' temporary' means. Can I say ' I'm learning to drive', even if I'm not having a driving lesson right now?

Yes, absolutely! You might not be having a driving lesson right at this moment, but it is temporary, so that's correct. We use the present continuous for longer situations like this too.

OK, I see what you mean. So that's for things happening now, or round about now. What about the future? Can I use the present continuous for the future?

Yes, I'm glad you asked me that. We use the present continuous for future arrangements with other people.
At eight I'm meeting Lucas, just for a quick coffee.
What about questions and negatives?

For questions you just change round the subject and the verb to be. So, You are > Are you, then add the -ing form. Sometimes you need a question word first.

For negatives you add not after the verb to be. Don't forget to use a contraction if you're speaking.
You're not really studying at all, are you? (or You aren't really studying...)
Theyaren't using the computer room at the moment.
This programisn't working.
That's fine, but I suppose there are some spelling rules for -ing forms?

Yes, you're right. If a verb ends in e, you take off the e and add -ing

If a verb ends in a vowel + a consonant, the consonant is usually doubled before you add -ing.

But be careful with verbs with more than two syllables where the stress isn't on the last syllable. With those you don't double the consonant.

OK, but what about two-syllable verbs where the stress is on the last syllable, like begin?

If the stress is on the last syllable, you do double the final consonant.

Right, the present continuous seems quite easy to me. I'm understanding it perfectly!

Whoops! Sorry, you can't say ' I'm understanding it'.

Why not? I'm talking about something happening right now.

Yes, but there is a group of verbs which are called state verbs which we use for states (not actions) and we don't usually use these in the continuous form.

want - need - like - love - hate - prefer - believe - think - know - realise - understand - recognise - suppose - be - exist - appear - look - seem - belong - have (for possession) - own - feel - smell - taste

So these are verbs for talking about emotions, thinking, existing, appearing, possession and the senses.

But wait a minute. What about, 'I'm thinking of coming with you tomorrow.' Or, 'I'm thinking about my girlfriend.'

Yes, they are correct. But the meaning of think there is 'having thoughts in your mind' or 'considering'. It's not the same as 'having an opinion' about something.
I think that song's brilliant. (opinion)
She's thinking about studying archaeology. (considering / wondering about)
OK, so there are some exceptions. Like, 'I'm loving it.'

No, sorry, that's not an exception, that's wrong!

Well, OK, maybe it's a new usage. English does change. But don't use it in exams!

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Sophie is working in Cairo this week. Oliver, Alfie and Daisy are working hard for their end-of-year exams.

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Exercise 4

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Simple Present or Present Progressive/Continuous - Exercise

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Simple Present or Present Progressive, Englisch Grammar Exercises Online

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Exercise 5

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Choose the present simple or the present continuous.

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Present simple vs Present continuous

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Join a game of kahoot here. Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn - any subject, in any language, on any device, for all ages!

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Join a game of kahoot here. Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn – any subject, in any language, on any device, for all ages!

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ex 2: questions

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Here's another interactive exercise to practise the present continuous

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ex 1: affirmative and negative 1

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Positive and Negative - Exercise 1

Practise making the English present continuous (positive and negative forms) here.

Remember, it's really important to know the verb forms inside out, so you can make the tenses without thinking. If you know how to make the tenses really well, you can concentrate only on choosing when to use them, which is more difficult. These exercises will help to make the verb forms automatic.

Click here to review how to make the present continuous.
Click here to go to the list of grammar exercises.
Download this exercise in PDF.

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Practise making the English present continuous (positive and negative forms) here. Remember, it's really important to know the verb forms inside out, so you can make the tenses without thinking. If you know how to make the tenses really well, you can concentrate only on choosing when to use them, which is more difficult.

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ex. 3 : What are they doing?

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Created with Hot Potatoes by Half-Baked Software, registered to Carmen Luisa Pérez Amaro.

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Match the sentences on the right to the pictures on the left.

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Exercise 6

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Table

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TV series

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Practice the Present Continuous with scenes from TV shows