1. Grammar Talk Grammar in Context Unit 3, Pages 35 - 37

3. We have a group of special verbs that are called “non-action verbs.”

4. Some people also call these verbs “stative verbs” because they describe a state, or condition, and not an action.

6. A normal, action verb can be either in the simple or progressive (continuous tense). For action verbs, the simple and progressive tenses have different meanings.

7. Non-action verbs are not normally usually used in the progressive tenses:

8. Know, want and belong are non-action verbs. We don’t normally use them in the progressive tense. I would never say I **am knowing him. They **are wanting to understand. The building **is belonging to the company. (** = a grammar mistake: not the way we say it.)

9. Some non-action verbs can sometimes be used as action verbs that have a different meaning, and in this case they can be used in the progressive:

11. An action verb is modified (or described by an adverb. Usually you form an adverb by adding “ –ly” to the adjective, but there are a few irregular adverbs that are completely different words from the adjective.

13. One of the differences between an action verb and a non-action verb is that an action verb is modified by an adverb, but a non-action verb is modified by an adjective, so

15. The last frame in the “Grammar Presentation on page 36 is about the common expression“There is …”

16. THERE + BE

17. The point to remember is that the verbs used in this way are always non-action, or stative. For instance, you would never say: ** “ There is being a request for this …”