Stative Vs Dynamic Verbs

Stative or State Verbs are verbs which express states, feelings or mental (=of the mind) activity. These verbs can only be used in the simple present or in any other simple tense, such as the simple past or the simple present perfect. They cannot be used in the present continuous or in any continuous tense.

Examples

• Sue wants an ipod for a birthday present. NOT Sue is wanting an ipod
• She has always wanted an ipod. NOT She has always been wanting an ipod
• She never wanted a CD. NOT She was never wanting a CD.
• I understand what you say. NOT I am understanding what you say.

Dynamic Verbs are verbs which express actions or activities and they can be used in both simple and continuous tenses.

Examples

• I usually drink coffee for breakfast but today I'm drinking tea.
• I was watching TV while my sister was playing on the computer.
• I've been walking in the rain, that's why I am wet.
• We often go to the cinema at the weekend but this weekend we're going to the theatre.

To put it simply, when you drink, watch, play or walk, you DO something. These are dynamic verbs. When you want, understand, like or  own something you don't do anything. These are stative verbs.

Here is a complete list of all stative verbs which you can download and/or print.

Download Stative-verbs-list

BUT! Some verbs can be stative or dynamic according to their meanings. Here are a few examples:

BE = have / possess = something belongs to you (stative)

John has a brother and three sisters.

I have a small cottage on the beach.

My aunt has a beautiful rose garden.

BE + ADJECTIVE = you are behaving in a strange way (dynamic)

Maria is rude = she is always rude, it's part of her personality

Maria is being rude = she isn't usually rude but today for some reason she is being rude.

Maria is being rude today. What's wrong with her? = Maria is usually polite but today, for some reason, she IS BEING RUDE.

BE + PASSIVE VERB (dynamic)

The road is being repaired. / Our house is being repainted.

THINK = my opinion is = stative

I think you should see a doctor.

THINK= something is on my mind (dynamic)

I'm thinking about going away for a few days.

SEE= see with your eyes / understand = stative

I see Paul getting off the bus.

I see what you mean

SEE = meet someone / say goodbye to someone at the train station or the airport (with off). (dynamic)

I'm seeing my dentist today.

Bill is seeing us off at the airport.

LOVE = always like (stative)

Jane loves ice cream.

LOVE= like something special

Bill is loving this ice cream. (This particular one but not necessarily all ice cream)

TASTE = has a certain taste

This fish tastes a bit too salty.

TASTE= the action of tasting

I'm tasting the fish to see if it needs some more salt.

SMELL =  have a particular smell (stative)

This soup smells delicious.

SMELL =  put your nose near something or someone to see what smell they have (dynamic)

Diane is smelling these lovely roses.

WEIGH = have a certain weight (stative)

How much does Helen weigh? She weighs 60 kilos.

WEIGH = the action of weighing (dynamic)

The doctor is weighing the baby.

I know grammar sounds boring but I'll tell you what I often tell my students. What's the use of learning 1000 words if you can't put them together (correctly!) in a sentence?