This document discusses state verbs and action verbs. State verbs describe a state of being and are not used in the continuous tense, while action verbs describe an action that happens. Some examples of state verbs are verbs of the senses like see, verbs of feelings like love, verbs of thinking like believe, and verbs of possession like have. However, some verbs like have and think can express both a state and an action depending on the context.

1. STATE AND ACTION
VERBS
Also called stative and dynamic
verbs

2. STATE VERBS
• A state is when something stays the same.
• State verbs are not used in the continuous
form

3. ACTION VERBS
An action is when something happens

4. STATE VERBS
1. VERBS OF THE SENSES
Appear
Hear
Look like
See
Taste

5. STATE VERBS
2. VERBS OF THE FEELINGS
Like
Hate
Love
Prefer
Want
Wish

6. STATE VERBS
3. VERBS OF THINKING
Agree
Believe
Forget
Know
Think
Understand

7. STATE VERBS
4. VERBS OF POSSESSION
Belong to
Contain
Have
Own

8. STATE VEREBS
5. VERBS OF BEING
Be
Exist

9. STATE VERBS
6. OTHER VERBS
Cost
Depend on
Mean
Need

10. STATE VERBS IN THE
CONTINUOUS FORM?
It’s OK to use a state verb in the continuous form if it
expresses a temporary feeling
“-How are you getting on in your new
school?
-I’m loving it”

11. VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS
STATE AND ACTION
It is possible for some verbs to express
state and action if they have two different
meanings

12. VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS
STATE AND ACTION
HAVE
Action:
“He’s having a shower” (=taking)
State: “He has a house in London”

13. VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS
STATE AND ACTION
THINK
“He thinks Obama will win the elections”
(opinion = state)
“what are you thinking now?” (action)

14. VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS
STATE AND ACTION
SEE
Action: “I’m seeing my dentist next
Tuesday” (=have an appointment with)
State: “ I see what you mean”
(=understand)