Stative verbs

What are stative verbs?

As we know now, * stative verbs are those verbs which describe a state or condition rather than an action * stative verbs are not normally used in continuous or progressive tenses.

Stative verbs: Types

There are several types of stative verbs. We have stative verbs which 1. describe mental and emotional states 2. describe the uses of the senses 3. are used to communicate and cause reactions 4. express possession, and 5. others

Stative verbs: mental and emotional states The most common stative verbs which describe mental and emotional states and cannot be used in continuous or progressive tenses are:

believe doubt feel (= have an opinion) imagine know (dis)like love hate prefer realise recognise remember see (= understand) suppose think (= have an opinion understand want wish

Stative verbs: mental and emotional states. Examples

I believe she is an excellent girl.

She doubts if she will come.

I feel that you’re right.

I imagine he is exhausted.

She surely knows the answer.

I like this film quite a lot.

They love being here now.

Paco hates going shopping.

He prefers playing tennis to going shopping.

Paco’s mother realizes it is expensive.

We recognise it is true.

They don’t remember me!

I see!

We suppose you’re right.

I think you’re wrong.

I perfectly understand the lesson.

My father wants me to go now.

We wish you a Merry Christmas.

Stative verbs: uses of the senses The most common stative verbs which are frequently used to refer to the senses and cannot be used in continuous or progressive tenses are:

appear (= seem to be) hear look (= seem) see (= visible) seem smell (= has the aroma) sound taste (= the flavour)

Stative verbs: mental and emotional states. Examples

He appears to know what he’s doing.

We can hear her singing.

He looks well.

I can see the tennis court from up here.

Paco’s friends seem very friendly.

That smells really good!

That sounds like a good idea.

This dish tastes delicious.

Stative verbs: communicating and causing reactions The most common stative verbs which are frequently used to communicate and cause reactions and cannot be used in continuous or progressive tenses are:

agree astonish deny disagree impress mean please promise satisfy surprise

Stative verbs: mental and emotional states. Examples

I completely agree with you.

Her reaction astonishes me.

The thief denies stealing the computer.

My friends disagree on that.

Your research is fantastic. You impress me!

I perfectly know what you mean.

You can do as you please.

I promise I’ll be there.

This sandwich doesn’t satisfy me.

Her behaviour surprises me a lot.

Stative verbs: expressing possession The most common stative verbs which are frequently used to express possession and cannot be used in continuous or progressive tenses are:

belong have (= possess) have got own possess

Stative verbs: mental and emotional states. Examples

Those tennis rackets belong to Paco.

She has his brother’s pet these days.

Andrés has got a new car.

His parents own several houses in the area.

They possess three cars at the moment.

Stative verbs: Others

Other stative verbs which are not normally used in continuous or progressive tenses are:

be concern consist contain depend deserve fit (= the right size) include involve lack matter measure (= have length, etc.) need owe weigh (= have weight)

Stative verbs: Others.

Examples

Paco isn’t good at English.

Your research lacks originality.

It concerns all of them.

It doesn’t matter how old you are.

The research consists in applying the theory. It measures 100 metres long. Those boxes contain new rackets.

Paco doesn’t deserve it.

I need a dictionary to solve it.

He owes money to Paco Your duties include doing your homework. This box weighs a ton!

Undoubtedly, this change involves a lot of extra work.