Stative Verbs 
are NOT used in Continuous Tenses 
Feelings: Thoughts, 
opinions: 
Senses: Possession: Measure, cost, 
Others: 
LIKE 
DISLIKE 
LOVE 
HATE 
PREFER 
WANT 
NEED 
MIND 
CARE 
KNOW 
THINK 
UNDERSTAND 
BELIEVE 
GUESS 
MEAN 
SUPPOSE 
DOUBT 
REALIZE 
REMEMBER 
FORGET 
AGREE 
FEEL 
HEAR 
SEE 
SMELL 
SOUND 
TASTE 
TOUCH 
LOOK 
BELONG 
OWN 
HAVE 
COST 
MEASURE 
WEIGH 
OWE 
SEEM 
BE 
APPEAR 
CONSIST 
But some of them can sometimes be “Dynamic/ action” verbs 
and go in a Continuous Tense:
Common verbs that can show 
“State” or “Action”: 
THINK = have an opinion  not in Continuous: I think that smoking is bad. 
= consider, have in mind  Can be continuous: I am thinking about you. 
HAVE = own, possess  not in Continuous: She has a new baby brother. 
+ expressions  Can be continuous: She’s having a shower. 
SMELL, 
WEIGH, 
LOOK, 
TASTE, ... 
WHEN INTRANSITIVE  not in Continuous: The coffee smells great . 
You look tired. 
This pizza tastes good! 
WHEN TRANSITIVE  Can be continuous: I’m smelling coffee. 
He’s looking at a picture. 
The chef is tasting the lunch. 
SEE with your eyes/ understand:  not in Continuous: I see what you mean. 
= meet someone:  Can be continuous: I’m seeing Peter tonight.
More Theory and Practice 
of Stative verbs 
here

Stative verbs

  • 1.
    Stative Verbs areNOT used in Continuous Tenses Feelings: Thoughts, opinions: Senses: Possession: Measure, cost, Others: LIKE DISLIKE LOVE HATE PREFER WANT NEED MIND CARE KNOW THINK UNDERSTAND BELIEVE GUESS MEAN SUPPOSE DOUBT REALIZE REMEMBER FORGET AGREE FEEL HEAR SEE SMELL SOUND TASTE TOUCH LOOK BELONG OWN HAVE COST MEASURE WEIGH OWE SEEM BE APPEAR CONSIST But some of them can sometimes be “Dynamic/ action” verbs and go in a Continuous Tense:
  • 2.
    Common verbs thatcan show “State” or “Action”: THINK = have an opinion  not in Continuous: I think that smoking is bad. = consider, have in mind  Can be continuous: I am thinking about you. HAVE = own, possess  not in Continuous: She has a new baby brother. + expressions  Can be continuous: She’s having a shower. SMELL, WEIGH, LOOK, TASTE, ... WHEN INTRANSITIVE  not in Continuous: The coffee smells great . You look tired. This pizza tastes good! WHEN TRANSITIVE  Can be continuous: I’m smelling coffee. He’s looking at a picture. The chef is tasting the lunch. SEE with your eyes/ understand:  not in Continuous: I see what you mean. = meet someone:  Can be continuous: I’m seeing Peter tonight.
  • 3.
    More Theory andPractice of Stative verbs here