This document discusses state verbs and activity verbs in English. It provides examples of common state verbs like "want", "understand", and "hate" which cannot be used in continuous tenses, as well as activity verbs like "walk", "talk", and "eat" which can be used in simple and continuous tenses. It also notes that some state verbs like "have" and "think" can also refer to activities and therefore can be used in continuous tenses. The document provides exercises to practice identifying state and activity verbs and using them correctly in sentences.

1. STATE AND ACTIVITY
VERBS

2. Now , I know the answer.
 What’s the tense?
 When is it happening?

3. There are two kinds of verbs in
English:
Activity verbs –
describe activities
and they can be
used in simple and
continuous tenses.
walk , talk, eat, drink…
 State verbs –
describe states
and can only be
used in simple
tenses. They can’t
be used in
continuous tenses.
hate, understand,
want…

4. State verbs:
 Verbs related to activities of the mind:
admit, agree, believe, know, mean, prefer,
realise, remember, think, understand, want
 Verbs related to emotions:
adore, care, like, dislike, love, hate, hope
 Having or being:
appear, be, belong, contain, have, include,
need, seem, possess, own
 Verbs related to senses:
feel, hear, look, see, smell, sound, taste…

5. Some state verbs can also refer to an activity. In this
meaning they can be used in a continuous tense.
 HAVE
We have a second-hand car. (have = possess >
state)
We are having some tea. (have = drink > activity)
 THINK
I think it’s a great idea. (think = believe > state)
I’m thinking about my exam. (think = consider >
activity)

6. Some state verbs can be used in the Present Simple
or Present Continuous but the meaning of the verb
changes:
We are having lunch now. (have = eat, an
activity)
I have two dogs and a cat. (have = possess, a
state)
What are you thinking about?
(think = consider, an activity)
I think he should look for a new job.
(think = believe, a state)

7. I think you made a mistake. think = believe
I am thinking about my mum now. think = mental process
I have two cars. have = possess, own
I am having my lunch now. have = eat
I am seeing my friend tomorrow evening. see = meeting with
I see what you mean. See = understand
 She looks beautiful in this new haircut, (look = appear, a state,)
 Are you feeling tired? = Are you experiencing 'the state of being
tired? {feel = experience, an activity)
 I feel the article is a bit aggressive. = In my opinion the article is a
bit aggressive, (feel = believe, a state)


8. Choose the correct form of the verb depending on whether
in this meaning it is an action or a state verb. If both the
Present Continuous and the Present Simple tenses are
possible, use the Present Continuous tense.
 a) Why are you smelling the soup?
b) Why do you smell the soup?
 a) She was feeling his arm on her shoulder.
b) She felt his arm on her shoulder.
 a) Are you having an English dictionary?
b) Do you have an English dictionary?
 a) I am feeling much better today.
b) I feel much better today.
 a) What are you looking at?
b) What do you look at?


9.  a) I am not hearing you.
b) I can't hear you.
 a) What are you thinking of me?
b) What do you think of me?
 a) I am feeling we should go home now.
b) I feel we should go home now.
 a) This bread is tasting funny.
b) This bread tastes funny.

10. Verbs related to senses are
followed by adjectives, not
adverbs.
 The coffee smells great.
 You look nice.
 That soup tastes awful.
 Their new song sounds fantastic.