Dynamic & stative

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Introduction

Firstly, what do "stative" and "dynamic" mean?

All verbs in English are classified as either stative or action verbs (also referred to as 'dynamic verbs'). Action verbs describe actions we take (things we do) or things that happen. Stative verbs refer to the way things 'are' - their appearance, state of being, smell, etc. The most important difference between stative and action verbs is that action verbs can be used in continuous tenses and stative verbs can not be used in continuous tenses.

Dynamic = moving or changing.Stative = having a state, or existing.

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Dynamic Verbs vs. Stative Verbs

Dynamic Verbs

Stative Verbs

Both

Exercises

Learn and study all about dynamic verbs and their usage. Then go on to stative verbs.

Learn and study all about stative verbs and their usage. Then go on to both.

Learn and study all about verbs that can be both dynamic & stative. Then go on to the exercises.

Practice the exercises to improve your understanding.

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Dynamic Verbs

"Dynamic" is an adjective which means something is moving or changing

Dynamic verbs are verbs that describe an action, not a state and are the opposite of stative verbs. They express a real action.

For example, "They are crossing the street."

John cries.

Example sentences:They swam to the other side.

She hit me on the head!

Open the window, please.

The dynamic verbs can be used in the progressive tenses.

Correct: He is drinking water.

Correct: He drinks water.In English grammar a "dynamic verb" means that the verb describes an action rather than a state. Dynamic verbs are sometimes known as "action verbs."

"Joe is chasing the bus."

First, here is a list of some Dynamic verbs. You can see that they are all used to describe an action, change, or process. Most of them are used to describe an activity which has a start and an end.

Examples of dynamic verbs:

Eat, walk, learn, grow, sleep, talk, write, run, read, become, go, act, build, complete, design, develop, draw, fix, gather, handle, head, help, improve, interview, introduce, justify, listen, lead, measure, narrate, negotiate, orchestrate, originate, outline, perform, persuade, predict, regulate, record, save, show, study, target, transform, travel, treat, uncover, unveil, use, validate, value, visualize, widen, write, zap, zoom...

These words can all be used in the progressive form.

Example sentences with dynamic verbs:

"I can't talk right now, I'm eating dinner."Present progressive used to describe an action happening now.

"Sorry, I'm out of breath because I've been running."Present perfect progressive used to describe an action that started in the past, continued for some time and has results now.

"I didn't steal the necklace! I was sleeping when someone broke into the shop!"Past progressive used to talk about an action that was happening at a particular time in the past.

Stative Verbs

"Stative" is an adjective which describes something as having a state, or existing (this is a very uncommon adjective).

In English grammar a "stative verb" means that the verb describes a state rather than an action.

Stative verbs are sometimes known as "state verbs."

"Kevin wants some ice-cream."

So now you know the meaning of the terms, let's look at some examples!

Here is a list of some of the Stative verbs. Some of these describe relationships between things or people (for example, own) and some describe emotions or states of mind.

Examples of stative verbs:

doubt, seem, know, own, understand, want, know, have (when it means possession), think (when it means opinion), like, love, hate, need, prefer, agree, sound, hear disagree, wish, look (when it mean seem), smell, include, be....

Emily is sad.

Examples sentences:She is a great wife.

He seems rather strange.

He wanted to see you.

That sounds awesome!

We have enough things to do.

Stative verbs are usually not used in the progressive tenses.

Examples:Incorrect: He is wanting to see you.Correct: He wants to see you.

Incorrect: I am knowing what to do.Correct: I know what to do.

Incorrect: They are seeming nice.Correct: They seem nice.

Here are some examples, showing that these words cannot be used in the progressive form.

Correct: "I like chocolate, but I prefer cake."

Incorrect: "I'm liking chocolate but I'm preferring cake."

Correct: "I don't understand you when you speak quickly."

Incorrect: "I'm not understanding you when you speak quickly."

However, if the same verb is used to describe an actual action (not a state) than it can be used in the progressive tenses.

Example:When the verb "have" means "own" – it is a state. So we do not use it in the progressive tenses.

Incorrect: I am having a laptop.Correct: I have a laptop.

When the verb "have" means "eat" – it is an actual action. So we can use it in the progressive tenses.

Correct: I am having lunch with Kate.Correct: I have lunch with Kate.

You cannot say:

I am knowing the truth.

I am liking pizza.

It is sounding like a great idea.

But you must say:

I know the truth.

I like pizza.

It sounds like a great idea.

You may say this even though it is grammatically incorrect.

Generally, stative verbs fall into four groups:

Verbs Showing Thought or Opinionsknowbelieveunderstandrecognize

Verbs Showing Possessionhaveownbelongpossess

Verbs Showing Senseshearsmellseefeel

Verbs Showing Emotionlovehatewant need

If you are unsure of whether a verb is an action verb or a stative verb ask yourself the following question:

Does this verb relate some sort of process or a state?

If it relates a process, then the verb is an action verb. If it relates a state, the verb is a stative verb.

The main thing to consider is these words can't be used in continuous tenses.

INCORRECT Examples:

I am loving baseball.

I was wanting pizza for dinner.

I am needing ten dollars.

There are also some verbs that can be either dynamic or stative, depending on their meaning and context in the sentence. I'm sure you know by now that there are many words in English that can have more than one meaning!

All this may seem complicated, but if you read and listen to as much English as you can, you will soon start to know which verbs sound right in the progressive. If you keep the basic idea of dynamic verbs vs static verbs in the back of your mind, it will help you greatly.

Reminder:

Actions that are in progress now => present progressiveExample: We are walking right now.

States that occur now => simple presentExample: We want to walk now.

Dynamic and Stative

Some verbs can be both action verbs and dynamic verbs depending on their meaning:

1. Be

be = it is usually used as a stative verb - stative He's an excellent guitarist.

be = when it means behave or act, it can be used as a an action verb in the continuous form. - dynamic You are being silly.

2. Thinkthink = to express an opinion, to believe - stative I think it's a fantastic idea.

think = consider, to reason about or reflect on, ponder, to have or formulate in the mind - dynamicI am thinking about my friend

3. Have

have = to possess, to own - stative He has a beautiful car

have = when it doesn't mean own or possess - dynamicHe's having lunch.

4. See

see = to perceive with the eye, to understand - stativeI see what you mean.

see = to meet, to be in the company of, to escort, to attend - dynamicHe's been seeing the same woman for eight years.

Some stative verbs can be used actively in special situations:

Be

You are annoying.

You are being annoying.

Think

I think studying history is important.

I am thinking about my girlfriend.

Have

I have a dog.

I am having a party.

I am having a good time.

Feel

I am not feeling well.

I feel that the test is difficult.

Senses

EarsListen is active and hear is stative.

I am listening to the radio.

I am hearing the radio. (Incorrect)

EyesWatch and look are active and see is stative

I am watching television.

I am looking at the news paper.

I am seeing the bird. (Incorrect)

Watch is used for things that move or show actions.

(Television, sports, etc.)

Look is for things that do not move.(Art, Books, etc.)

Nose

Smell can be active or stative depending on the situation.

I am smelling

This describes the action of smelling.

I smell something burning.

This is more common and is used to describe what you smell.

Mouth Taste can also be active or stative.

I am tasting the soup.

This describes the action you are doing.

However, it is better to say “I am trying the soup.”

I taste salt in this soup.

This describes what you taste.

Exercises

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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 1

Put the verbs in brackets in their correct form. Some verbs are stative verbs and some are dynamic verbs. Use the simple present or present progressive tense. Press "Check" to check your answers.

1. Actually, that (sound) wonderful.

2. We (cook) right now.

3. I (promise) to be back soon.

4. Frank and his wife (disagree) on this matter.

1. sounds

2. are cooking

3. promise

4. disagree

Check Answers

5. He (own) several large companies.

6. you (hear) Richard's voice now?

7. you (study) at the moment?

8. I (mean) to hurt you.

9. you (mind) taking out the garbage?

10. I seriously (doubt) it.

Check Answers

5. owns

6. Do…hear

7. Are…studying

8. don't mean

9. Do….mind

10. doubt

Put the verbs in brackets in their correct form. Some verbs are stative verbs and some are dynamic verbs. Use the simple present or present progressive tense. Press "Check" to check your answers.

Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 2

1. you (recognize) this painting now?

2. He (appear) a bit snobbish.

3. She (not wash) the dishes now.

4. it really (matter) now?

Check Answers

1. Do….recognize

2. appears

3. is not washing

4. Does….matter

Check Answers

5. Right now it (seem) cold outside.

6. I (suppose) we could do that, too.

7. Janet (not realize) how much he loves her.

8. this dog (belong) to you?

9. It (rain) right now.

10. I (not know) the right answer right now.

5. seems

6. suppose

7. does not realize

8. Does…..belong

9. is raining

10. don't know

Check Answers

Put the verbs in brackets in their correct form. Some verbs are stative verbs and some are dynamic verbs. Use the simple present or present progressive tense. Press "Check" to check your answers.

Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 3

1. Jessica (believe) every word.

2. He (understand) Italian.

3. I (wish) we could go home now.

4. Right now you (not listen) to music.

1. believes

2. understands .

3. wish

4. are not listening

Check Answers

5. Maggie (hate) bugs.

6. We (not agree) on this one.

7. I (dislike) eating fish.

8. Monkeys (like) bananas.

9. These monkeys (eat) bananas now.

10. This diet (consist) of mainly fruit and vegetables.

5. hates

6. do not agree

7. dislike

8. like

9. are eating

10. consists

Check Answers

Put the verbs in brackets in their correct form. Some verbs are stative verbs and some are dynamic verbs. Use the simple present or present progressive tense. Press "Check" to check your answers.

Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 4

1. Our book (include) stories and exercises.

2. They (remember) what happened.

3. We (need) a longer rope.

4. You (not deserve) it.

1. includes

2. remember

3. need

4. do not deserve

Check Answers

5. he (play) golf at the moment?

6. This (not concern) us at the moment.

7. I (love) you.

8. She (feel) she's not good enough.

9. Our cakes (not contain) any gluten.

10. They (jog) now.

5. Is…playing

6. does not concern

7. love

8. feels

9. do not contain

10. are jogging

Check Answers

Put the verbs in brackets in their correct form. Some verbs are stative verbs and some are dynamic verbs. Use the simple present or present progressive tense. Press "Check" to check your answers.

Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 5

1. We (be) at the office right now.

2. I (see) that you are busy at the moment.

3. We (have) a coffee.

4. I (think) that's not true.

1. are

2. see

3. are having

4. think

Check Answers

5. Joe (be) silly again.

6. I (see) Ben. We have a lot of fun together.

7. Your cooking (taste) great.

8. We (have) three kids.

9. We (taste) the cakes now.

10. I (think) about it at the moment.

5. is being

6. am seeing

7. tastes

8. have

9. are tasting

10. am thinking

Check Answers

Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 6

Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. I __________ three brothers.a) haveb) am having2. She __________ how to speak four languages.a) knowsb) is knowing3. I __________ television right now.a) watchb) am watching 4. They __________ hockey.a) loveb) are loving

B

A

B

A

Check Answers

5. He ___________a party tomorrow night.a) hasb) is having6. Brenda _________ scary movies are stupid.a) thinksb) is thinking7. Bill _________ about what he wants to do this weekend.a) thinksb) is thinking8. She __________ right now, so she can`t cook dinner.a) talksb) is talking9. I __________ studying for exams.a) hateb) am hating10. We __________ to go to the movies than the mall.a) preferb) are preferring

B

A

B

B

A

A