Stative verbs
Structure of stative, dynamic and mixed verbs.
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Stative verbs
Stative verbs are verbs that cannot be used in continuous forms (verb+ -ing). These are verbs that describe conditions, emotions, states, and situations.
For example: Want ≠ Wanting (does not exist)
Stative verbs can be divided into six categories:
- State verbs: To express opinion
| Agree | Concern | Doubt | Know | Mind | Suppose |
| Appear | Depend | Feel | Matter | Remember | Think |
| Believe | Disagree | Guess | Mean | Seem | Understand |
- Taste verbs: To express likes and dislike
| Dislike | Hate | Like | Love | Prefer |
- Possession verbs: To express possession
| Belong | Have | Include | Involve | Lack | Owe | Own |
- Measurement verbs: To describe characteristics
| Appear | Contain | Owe |
| Be | Cost | Seem |
| Consist | Measure | Weigh |
- Necessity verbs: To describe necessity
| Deserve | Need | Want | Wish |
- Perception verbs: To describe situations
| Hear | Recognise | See | Sound |
| Imagine | Satisfy | Smell | Taste |
Dynamic / Action verbs
On the other hand, verbs that can be used in simple (I play chess), compound and continuous forms are dynamic or action verbs. These are used to express actions, processes, changes, evolution and movement.
For example: Write = Writing
Dynamic verbs can be divided into three categories:
- Achievement verbs: actions that have planned executions
| Arrange | Evaluate | Test |
| Classify | Improve | Update |
- Accomplishment verbs: actions that do not have planned executions
| Break | Cut | Divide | Explode | Fall |
- Activity verbs: common action verbs
| Become | Drive | Eat | Play | Write |
Mixed verbs
Mixed verbs can work as stative or dynamic verbs, depending on the context of the sentence. In the stative form, it may refer to a permanent characteristic. Im the dynamic form, the characteristics are temporary and unusual.
Mixed verbs can be divided into six categories:
- To be:
For example:
To be: He is nice. / He is being nice.
- To have:
For example:
To have: She has brown eyes. / She is having a good time.
- To mind
For example:
To mind:
- I don’t mind if you are late. → In this case, the verb means to care about something)
- You are minding about your tasks. → In this case, the verb means to deal with something)
- To see
For example:
To see:
- I see the beach. → In this case, the verb means to see or tu understand.
- I am seeing my friends tonight. → In this case, the verb means to meet with someone.
- To taste
For example:
To taste:
- The salad tastes great! → In this case, the verb the verb reflects an opinion.
- The food critic is tasting the dishes. → In this case, the verb works as an action.
- To think
For example:
To think:
- I think she is beautiful. → In this case, the verb reflects an opinion.
- I am thinking about going to the gym. → In this case, the verb means to think.
