Stative verbs

stative and dynamic verbs

are different types a verbs

dynamic verbs

stative verbs

the dynamic verbs represent an action

refer to a state or condition which is not changing or likely to change

examples

examples

love; hate; like; see; hear; sound; think (meaning "have an opinion"); mind (meaning "care about"); recognize; seem; have (meaning "own"); prefer; doubt; consist of; mean

eat; drink; go; type; read; write; listen; speak; watch; say; grow; work; sleep; cook; talk

there are exeptions

some verbs are dynimic and atative verbs or to put in other way the verbs have the same meanings

examples

Be

Think

Have

See

taste

be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous it means 'behaving' or 'acting'

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 picnic / a bath / a good time / a break

see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand

I see what you mean

see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with

I've been seeing my boyfriend for three years

taste (stative) = has a certain taste

This soup tastes great

taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting

The chef is tasting the soup