STATIVE verbs = non-progressive verbs refer to states rather than actions | Some refer to mental states (e.g. know, think, believe); some others refer to the use of the senses.
STATIVE verbs
describe states which continue over a period:
BE, KNOW,
THINK, BELIEVE...
DYNAMIC (ACTIVE) verbs
describe something that happens in a limited time
and has its definite beginning and end:
LIVE, LEARN
RUN, HIT, GO...
VERBS WITH DIFFERENT MEANINGS:
SEE
Do you see that man over there?(see with your eyes)
She has been seeing Pete for three months.
(She has been dating Pete, going out with him)
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| BY-SA Nina Paley |
THINK
I think that football is stupid.(I think=this is my opinion)
I'm thinking about going home now.
(I'm thinking=these are my thoughts right now)
SMELL
The coffee smells good.(It has a good smell)
I'm smelling the flowers, look!
(I'm sniffing the flowers to see what they smell like)
TASTE
The coffee tastes good.(It has a good taste)
I'm tasting the cake.
(I'm trying it to see what it is like)
HEAR
Old George doesn't hear too well any more. (with his ears)Mary is hearing voices. (She can hear things no one else can)
BE
Joe is American.(Joe is an American citizen.)
Joe is being very American.
(Joe is behaving like a stereotypical American.)
Joe is being very rude.
(Joe is behaving very rudely. Usually he is not rude.)
FEEL (feelings, emotions=dynamic)
How do you feel? / How are you feeling?I'm feeling a little better today.
FEEL (think, have an opinion=not usually in progressive)
I feel that my son's school isn't doing enough to prevent bullying.MEAN (showing intention = dynamic)
I've been meaning to tell you something...MEAN (think, have an opinion = stative)
What do you mean by that?
Other examples:
- I weighed 68 kilos three months ago - and look at me now!
- They are weighing my bag to see how much it weighs.
- The scales broke when I was weighing myself this morning.
- He appears to be very nervous. Why's that, I wonder!
- Oh, my gosh - she is appearing in that film with Brad Pitt!
- Let's see if that jacket fits. Yes, it fits like a glove!
- The patient was fitting. (having a seizure)
- He was fitting a new lock on the door when his phone rang.
- She has three brothers and two sisters.
- I think they're having lunch.
- You look really beautiful in that dress.
- I'm looking at this picture to see if I can guess who your dad is.
