Grammar: Action and stative verbs
Skill learned: Knowing when a verb describes a state rather than an action, so that you can choose the correct tense and understand differences in meaning.
ACTION AND STATIVE VERBS
What Are Action Verbs and Stative Verbs?
Action verbs describe something that a person, animal, or thing does. They usually show a physical action or a deliberate activity.
Examples: run, jump, write, swim, dance, build
These verbs can normally be used in continuous tenses:
- She is running.
- They are building a house.
Stative verbs describe a state, condition, feeling, thought, possession, or relationship rather than an action.
Examples: know, believe, own, belong, understand, prefer.
These verbs are not usually used in continuous tenses:
- I know the answer (CORRECT)
- I am knowing the answer. (WRONG)
Examples of verbs that are only action verbs
Verb | Example |
run | Tom runs every morning. |
jump | The child jumped over the puddle. |
swim | They swim in the lake. |
write | She is writing a letter. |
dance | We danced all night. |
build | Workers are building a bridge. |
Examples of verbs that are only stative verbs
Verb | Example |
know | I know the answer. |
She believes the story. | |
own | They own a restaurant. |
belong | This book belongs to me. |
We understand the instructions. | |
I prefer tea to coffee. |
Verbs that can be both action and stative
These verbs change meaning depending on the context.
Verb | Stative Meaning | Action Meaning |
think | I think he is right. (= believe) | I am thinking about the problem. (= considering) |
have | I have a car. (= possess) | We are having dinner. (= eating) |
see | I see your point. (= understand) | I am seeing the doctor tomorrow. (= meeting) |
The soup tastes good. (= has a flavor) | She is tasting the soup. (= testing the flavor) | |
I feel happy. (= emotion/state) | She is feeling the fabric. (= touching) | |
You look tired. (= appear) | He is looking at the painting. (= directing his eyes) |
EXERCISE 1
EXERCISE 2
For each verb, tell what type it is and write one sentence using the verb in that type.
Verb | Type | Words you can use in the sentence | Example Sentence(s) (Hover to reaveal) |
taste | Soup | ||
jump | dog | ||
own | bookstore | ||
look | tired, map | ||
build | bridge | ||
think | idea, future | ||
believe | everything | ||
swim | lake | ||
feel | happy, fabric | ||
know | answer | ||
dance | wedding | ||
have | bicycle, lunch | ||
belong | jacket | ||
run | 5 km | ||
understand | instructions | ||
write | letter | ||
see | mean, dentist | ||
prefer | coffee |
MOST COMMON VERBS IN EACH TYPE
| Common Action Verbs | Common Stative Verbs | Common Verbs That Can Be Both |
|---|---|---|
| go | know | think |
| come | have | |
| get | believe | see |
| make | understand | look |
| do | remember | feel |
| take | forget | taste |
| give | prefer | smell |
| find | need | hear |
| use | want | appear |
| work | love | be |
| call | hate | weigh |
| try | own | measure |
| ask | belong | mind |
| help | seem | enjoy |
| move | mean | consider |
| play | recognize | expect |
| start | agree | imagine |
| walk | depend | admire |
| write | matter | appreciate |
| read | contain | think about |
LISTENING EXERCISE
Use the audio player at the bottom of the screen
GRAMMAR TEST
Listen to the audio and identify the verbs that can only be used as stative verbs.
COMPREHENSION QUIZ
QUESTIONS
1. Why did Daniel visit the coastal town?
2. What did Daniel notice at the harbor?
3. Who did Daniel meet at noon?
4. What business did Mia own?
5. What did Daniel think of the seafood soup?
6. Why was Daniel excited when he saw the painting?
7. What was Mia considering buying?
8. What was happening in the town square?
9. What attracted Daniel to the bakery?
10. What did Daniel decide at the end of the day?
ANSWERS
1. Daniel wanted to visit the coastal town because he wanted to see a place he had never visited.
2. He noticed fishing boats moving slowly across the water
3. At noon, Daniel met his friend Mia
4. Mia owned a café near the beach.
5. He thought it tasted excellent.
6. Daniel was excited when he saw the painting because he knew the artist personally.
7. Mia considered buying the painting
8. A band was performing in the town square
9. Daniel was attracted to the bakery by the smell of fresh bread
10. At the end of the day Daniel decided to return to the coastal town someday
GRAMMAR TEST ANSWERS
Last Saturday, Daniel visited a small coastal town that he had never seen before. As he walked along the harbor, he noticed dozens of fishing boats moving slowly across the water. He admired the view and thought the town looked peaceful.
At noon, Daniel met his friend Mia, who owned a café near the beach. While they were having lunch, Daniel tasted a seafood soup. It tasted excellent, so he ordered another bowl. Mia asked whether he liked the town. Daniel replied that he loved it and believed it was one of the most charming places he had ever visited.
After lunch, they strolled through a local market. Daniel saw a painting of the harbor and immediately recognized the artist’s style. He felt excited because he knew the artist personally. As he was examining the painting, Mia was thinking about buying it for her café.
Later, they heard music coming from the town square. A band was performing, and a crowd was gathering around the stage. Daniel watched the musicians while Mia was looking for a place to sit. They found a bench, and Daniel smelled fresh bread from a nearby bakery. Curious, he walked over and sampled a piece. It smelled wonderful and tasted even better.
As the sun set, Daniel realized that he wanted to return. He understood why so many people preferred this town to larger tourist destinations.
Stative verbs: believe, know, love, like, prefer, understand, want, recognize, own, realize
Action verbs: visit, walk, notice, meet, stroll, hear, watch, gather, sample, return
Mixed-type verbs: think, see, feel, have, taste, smell, look, admire, hear, recognize, understand
METHOD
Listen- Comprehension-Read (Vocabulary, pronunciation) -Grammar- Speaking