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Stative vs dynamic verbs (or non-action vs action verbs) - Page 2 of 3 - 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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Stative Verbs

Stative or non-action verbs are verbs that describe a state or condition rather than an action. As a state has no real beginning or end, stative verbs are only used with simple and perfect tenses. They cannot be used with continuous tenses.

These are some of the most common verbs that refer to states or conditions, so they are stative verbs.

Possession and size.

Examples: belong, own, have (meaning 'possess'), possess, weigh, measure.

Ali owns th ree cars.

Ali is owning three cars.

Opinion

Examples: know, believe agree, think (meaning 'believe' or 'have an opinion'), imagine, understand.

I know what the answer is.

I am knowing what the answer is.

Likes and dislikes, feelings and emotions.

Examples: like, love, want, need, wish, prefer, dislike.

Sam likes vegetables.

Sam is liking vegetables.

Perception and the senses.

Examples: sound, hear, seem, see*, appear*, look*, taste*, smell*, feel*.

You sound sad.

You are sounding sad.

* Although they are usually used as stative verbs, these verbs can also be dynamic when they are used to describe voluntary actions, not perceptions.

Dynamic Verbs

Dynamic verbs are verbs which describe an action, change or process that has a beginning and an end. They are the most common type of verb and can be used in all tenses and aspects.

When referring to an action that is or was in progress, we use dynamic verbs with a continuous tense.

However, when referring to habits or things that are always true, we use them with a simple tense.

Here are some common verbs that refer to actions, not states, so they are dynamic and can be used in both simple and continuous tenses: eat, run, swim, speak, talk, walk, sleep, make, cook, come, go, buy, sit, watch, listen, do, play, say, read, write, stand, bring, take, give, jump, drive, ride, climb, fly, fall, cry, drink, send, kiss, wear, smell*, taste*, feel*, look*.

* These are often stative verbs but they can be used in continuous forms when they are voluntary actions.

Verbs which are both stative and dynamic

Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic. Here are some common examples.

Have

Have, meaning 'to possess', describes a state, so it is a stative verb.

But when have doesn't mean 'to possess', it describes an action, so it is a dynamic verb.

Be

The verb be is normally used to describe a state, so it is a stative verb.

But when be means 'to act or behave', it describes an action, so it is a dynamic verb.

Think

Think, meaning 'to believe' or 'to have an opinion', describes a state, so it is a stative verb.

Think, meaning 'to use your brain to reflect", is an action, so it is a dynamic verb

Look

Look, meaning 'to appear', is a state, so it is a stative verb.

Look, meaning 'to focus the eyes on something', is an action, so it is a dynamic verb.

Taste, see, smell, feel

Although they are usually classified as stative, some verbs of the senses (e.g., taste, see, smell, feel) can also be dynamic when they refer to voluntary actions and not perceptions.

Tom is seeing Katie this afternoon. (Voluntary action meaning 'to meet or visit someone')

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Stative vs dynamic verbs (or non-action vs action verbs) - Page 3 of 3 - 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.