What is a Stative Verb?
A stative verb describes a state, condition, or situation rather than an action. The most important rule to remember is that stative verbs are generally not used in continuous (progressive) tenses (like be + verb-ing).
* Incorrect: I am knowing the answer.
* Correct: I know the answer.
Here are the common stative verbs grouped by the type of state they describe.
1. Verbs of Senses & Perception
These verbs describe the information we receive through our senses. The action is involuntary.
* see: I see a bird in the tree.
* hear: Do you hear that music?
* smell: This flower smells wonderful.
* taste: The soup tastes salty.
* feel: This blanket feels soft.
* seem: You seem tired today.
* appear: He appears to be lost.
* look: That cake looks delicious. (meaning "appears")
* sound: Your idea sounds great.
* recognize: I recognize him from school.
* notice: Did you notice her new haircut?
2. Verbs of Emotion & Feeling
These verbs describe emotional states or feelings.
* love: She loves classical music.
* hate: He hates waking up early.
* like: We like your new apartment.
* dislike: I dislike crowded places.
* want: They want to leave now.
* need: The plant needs more water.
* wish: I wish I could travel more.
* prefer: I prefer tea to coffee.
* adore: They absolutely adore their new puppy.
* detest: She detests dishonesty.
* envy: I envy your confidence.
* fear: The child fears the dark.
* mind: I don't mind if you open the window.
3. Verbs of Thought & Opinion
These verbs describe mental processes and beliefs.
* know: He knows the capital of France.
* believe: I believe you are right.
* think: I think this is a good idea. (meaning "believe" or "have an opinion")
* understand: Do you understand the instructions?
* remember: I remember my first day of school.
* forget: She often forgets where she put her keys.
* realize: I just realized I made a mistake.
* suppose: I suppose we should get going.
* doubt: He doubts that the story is true.
* agree: She agrees with the proposal.
* disagree: They disagree on many things.
* mean: What do you mean by that?
4. Verbs of Possession & Being
These verbs describe ownership and states of existence.
* have: She has two brothers. (meaning "possess")
* own: They own a house by the lake.
* possess: The museum possesses several rare artifacts.
* belong to: This book belongs to me.
* be: He is a doctor.
* exist: Do you believe ghosts exist?
* include: The price includes tax.
* contain: This box contains old photographs.
* consist of: The team consists of five players.
* involve: The job involves a lot of travel.
5. Verbs of Measurement & State
These verbs describe qualities like weight, cost, and measurement.
* cost: The ticket costs $50.
* weigh: This package weighs five kilograms.
* measure: The room measures 10 feet by 12 feet.
* equal: Two plus two equals four.
* depend on: Our plan depends on the weather.
* matter: Your opinion matters to me.
Important Note: Verbs with Both Stative and Dynamic Meanings
Some verbs can be stative or dynamic (action) depending on the context. When they are used as dynamic verbs, they can be used in continuous tenses.
| Verb | Stative Meaning (State) | Dynamic Meaning (Action) |
|---|---|---|
| have | Possession: I have a car. | Experience/Action: I'm having a great time. / She's having lunch. |
| think | Opinion: I think it's a good movie. | Mental Process: Be quiet, I'm thinking. |
| see | Perception with eyes: I see the mountains. | Meeting/Dating: He's seeing a doctor. / They are seeing each other. |
| taste | Quality of food: This food tastes great. | The act of tasting: The chef is tasting the soup. |
| smell | Quality of an odor: The roseana uses.
smells lovely. | The act of smelling: Why are you smelling the milk? |
| be | Permanent state: He is a patient person. | Temporary behavior: He is being very impatient right now. |
| weigh | Measurement state: The bag weighs 10kg. | The act of weighing: The cashier is weighing the vegetables. |
| look | Appe
arance: You look tired. | The act of looking: She is looking at the painting. |
1)MENTAL STATE
know
believe
imagine*
want*
realize
feel
doubt*
need
understand
remembert
suppose
desire
recognize
think*
forger*
mean*
(2) EMOTIONAL STATE
dislike
like
anaze
care
surprise
appreciate
fear
please
astonish
mind
love
hate
envy
prefer
3)POSSESSION
posses
have
own
belong
4) SENSE PERCEPTIONS
taste
smell
hear
feel
see
5)OTHER EXISTING STATES
seem
look
appear
sound
resemble
look like
cost
owe
weigh
equal
be
matter
consist of
contain
include
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