This document discusses stative and dynamic verbs. Stative verbs describe a state of being and are not usually used in continuous tenses, while dynamic verbs describe actions and can be used in continuous tenses. It provides examples of common stative verbs like appear, belong, and fit. Some verbs like be, have, see, taste, and think can be either stative or dynamic depending on how they are used.

1. Stative and
Dynamic Verbs

2.  Some verbs are only (or mostly)
used in simple tenses, and are
not used in continuous.

3.  Such as: agree, appear, believe,
belong, concern, consist,
contain, depend, deserve,
doubt, fit, hate, hear, imagine,
impress, include, involve, know,
like, love, matter…

4.  mean, mind, need, owe, own,
prefer, promise, realize,
recognize, remember, seem,
sound, suppose, surprise,
understand, want, weigh, wish,
etc.

5. For example,
 It appears to be raining.
 This book belonged to my
grandfather.
 This shirt fits me well.
 Do you hear the music?

6. Dynamic verbs
 are used to describe skills and
accomplishments that you have
gained through professional
experience.
 Some verbs can be both stative
and dynamic:

7. 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 a part of your
personality.
You are being
stupid = only now,
not usually.

8. have have (stative) =
own:
I have a car.
have (dynamic) =
a part of the
expression:
I’m having a party /
a picnic / a bath / a
good time / a
break.

9. see see (stative) = see
with your eyes /
understand:
I see what you
mean.
I see her now,
she’s going along
the road.
see (dynamic) =
meet / have a
relationship with:
I’ve been seeing
my boyfriend for
three years.

10. taste (also taste (stative) =
smell, feel, has a certain taste:
look) This soup tastes
great.
taste (dynamic) =
the action of
tasting:
The chef is tasting
the soup.

11. 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.