THE STATIVE VERBS

Some English verbs, which we call state, non-continuous or stative verbs, aren't used in the continuous tenses (like the present continuous, or the future continuous). These verbs often describe states that last for some time. Here is a list of some common ones:

LIST OF STATIVE VERBS

like	know	belong
love	realise / realize	fit
hate	suppose	contain
want	mean	consist
need	understand	seem
prefer	believe	depend
agree	remember	matter
mind	recognise/recognize	see
own	appear	look (=seem)
sound	taste	smell
hear	astonish	deny
disagree	please	impress
satisfy	promise	surprise
doubt	think (=have an opinion)	feel (=have an opinion)
wish	imagine	concern
dislike	be	have
deserve	involve	include
lack	measure (=have length)	possess
owe	weigh (=have weight)

A verb which isn't stative is called a dynamic verb, and is usually an action.

SOME VERBS CAN BE BOTH STATIVE AND DYNAMIC:

BE:

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:

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:

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:

see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand I see what you mean I see her now, she's just coming along the road see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with I've been seeing my boyfriend for three years I'm seeing Robert tomorrow

TASTE:

taste (stative) = has a certain taste This soup tastes great The coffee tastes really bitter taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting The chef is tasting the soup The “taste” is the same as other similar verbs such as “smell”