STATIVE VERBSSTATIVE VERBS

They express a state rather They express a state rather than an activity, so they are than an activity, so they are not normally used in any of not normally used in any of the continuous tenses.the continuous tenses.

Stative verbsStative verbs• Verbs that describe wants and likes Verbs that describe wants and likes

and preferences, e.g. and preferences, e.g. want, like, want, like, prefer, hope, wish, detestprefer, hope, wish, detest..

• Verbs that describe thought Verbs that describe thought processes and opinions, e.g. processes and opinions, e.g. think, think, believe, know, remind, understand, believe, know, remind, understand, mean.mean.

Stative verbsStative verbs• Verbs for the senses: Verbs for the senses: hear, see, hear, see,

taste, smell, touch, feeltaste, smell, touch, feel. . • But sense verbs that describe an But sense verbs that describe an

active, deliberate use of the senses active, deliberate use of the senses are used in the continuous tenses, are used in the continuous tenses, e.g. e.g. watch, look, stare, listen.watch, look, stare, listen.

• Verbs for belonging and containing, Verbs for belonging and containing, e.g. e.g. Own, possess, belong, contain.Own, possess, belong, contain.

Stative verbs Stative verbs used in continuous used in continuous

tensestenses

A.A.She’She’ss usually quite honest. usually quite honest.

B.B.She’She’s beings being very honest. very honest.

A = fact / B = temporary, A = fact / B = temporary, intentionalintentional

Stative verbs Stative verbs used in continuous used in continuous

tensestenses

A.A.I I thinkthink you’re unreliable and you’re unreliable and over-ambitious. over-ambitious.

B.B.I’I’m thinkingm thinking of buying a new car. of buying a new car.

A = Opinion / B. = considering.A = Opinion / B. = considering.

Stative verbs Stative verbs used with continuous used with continuous

tensestenses

A.A.He He appearsappears to be quite mature, to be quite mature, but he’s actually quite the but he’s actually quite the opposite.opposite.

B.B.The new fashions The new fashions will be will be appearingappearing next spring. next spring.

A = seems to be / B = come out ; A = seems to be / B = come out ; take parttake part

Stative verbs Stative verbs used in continuous used in continuous

tensestenses

A.A.I I don’t havedon’t have much experience of much experience of negotiating prices.negotiating prices.

B.B.II’m having’m having dinner with the Prime dinner with the Prime Minister after the meeting.Minister after the meeting.

A. (= possess) / B. (= eating a A. (= possess) / B. (= eating a meal)meal)

Stative verbs Stative verbs used in continuous used in continuous

tensestenses

A.A.This is how you should present This is how you should present your CV. your CV. DoDo youyou seesee what I what I mean?mean?

B.B.How long How long have you been seeinghave you been seeing a psychiatrist?a psychiatrist?

A. = understand / B. = visitingA. = understand / B. = visiting

Stative verbs Stative verbs used in continuous used in continuous

tensestenses

A.A.This sign This sign meansmeans ‘slow down’. ‘slow down’.

B.B.You’reYou’re always always meaningmeaning to call to call us, but you never do.us, but you never do.

A = signify / represent / B. = A = signify / represent / B. = intendingintending

Stative verbs Stative verbs used in continuous used in continuous

tensestenses

A.A.She She weighsweighs 70 kilos. 70 kilos.

B.B.I’I’m weighingm weighing the ingredients for the ingredients for the cake.the cake.

A = is, “fact” / B = action, “to A = is, “fact” / B = action, “to measure”measure”

Stative verbs Stative verbs used in continuous used in continuous

tensestenses

A.A.I I cancan hearhear someone coming someone coming upstairs.upstairs.

B.B.I’m sure we’I’m sure we’ll be hearingll be hearing a lot a lot more about this new technology more about this new technology in the coming year.in the coming year.

A = perception of a sound / B= get A = perception of a sound / B= get news.news.

Stative verbs Stative verbs used in continuous used in continuous

tensestenses

A.A.I I feltfelt somebody push me from somebody push me from behind.behind.

B.B.I hope you’I hope you’re feelingre feeling better better now.now.

C.C.Do you Do you feelfeel we are on the we are on the right path?right path?

A = Physical perception (=could feel) / B A = Physical perception (=could feel) / B = health, mood,… / C = think= health, mood,… / C = think

Stative verbs Stative verbs used in continuous used in continuous

tensestenses

A.A.I’ve got a cold, so I I’ve got a cold, so I can’t smellcan’t smell anything properly.anything properly.

B.B.He’He’s smellings smelling her new perfume. her new perfume.

A= body perception / deliberate act of A= body perception / deliberate act of smelling.smelling.

Stative verbs Stative verbs used in continuous used in continuous

tensestenses

A.A.Can you Can you tastetaste something something funny in this wine?funny in this wine?

B.B.WeWe’ve been tasting’ve been tasting different different wines all week but that one wines all week but that one was really special.was really special.

A= body perception / deliberate act A= body perception / deliberate act of tasting.of tasting.