Stative Verbs List
Some verbs are only (or mostly) used in simple tenses, and are not used in continuous
tenses. An example of a simple tense is the present simple, or the past simple. An
example of a continuous tense is the present continuous or past continuous. These
verbs are called stative, or state verbs. A verb which isn’t stative is called a dynamic
verb, and is usually an action. Often stative verbs are about liking or disliking
something, or about a mental state, not about an action.
verb correct wrong
agree She didn’t agree with us. She wasn’t agreeing with us.
appear It appears to be raining. It is appearing to be raining.
believe I don’t believe the news. I am not believing the news.
belong This book belonged to my grandfather. This book was belonging to my
grandfather.
concern This concerns you. This is concerning you.
consist Bread consists of flour, water and yeast. Bread is consisting of flour, water
and yeast.
contain This box contains a cake. This box is containing a cake.
depend It depends on the weather. It’s depending on the weather.
deserve He deserves to pass the exam. He is deserving to pass the exam.
disagree I disagree with you. I am disagreeing with you.
dislike I have disliked mushrooms for years. I have been disliking mushrooms for years.
doubt I doubt what you are saying. I am doubting what you are saying.
feel (=have opinion) I don’t feel that this is a good idea. I am not feeling that this is a good
idea.
fit This shirt fits me well. This shirt is fitting me well.
hate Julie’s always hated dogs. Julie’s always been hating dogs.
hear Do you hear music? Are you hearing music?
imagine I imagine you must be tired. I am imagining you must be tired.
impress He impressed me with his story. He was impressing me with his story.
include This cookbook includes a recipe for bread.
This cookbook is including a recipe for bread.
involve The job involves a lot of travelling. The job is involving a lot of travelling.
know I’ve known Julie for ten years. I’ve been knowing Julie for ten years.
like I like reading detective stories. I am liking reading detective stories.
love I love chocolate. I’m loving chocolate.*
matter It doesn’t matter. It isn’t mattering.
mean ‘Enormous’ means ‘very big’. ‘Enormous’ is meaning ‘very big’. measure (=be long)
This window measures 150cm. This window is measuring 150cm.
mind She doesn’t mind the noise. She isn’t minding the noise.
need At three o’clock yesterday I needed a taxi. At three o’clock yesterday I was needing a taxi.
owe I owe you £20. I am owing you £20.
own She owns two cars. She is owning two cars.
prefer I prefer chocolate ice cream. I am preferring chocolate ice cream.
promise I promise to help you tomorrow. I am promising to help you tomorrow.
realise I didn’t realise the problem. I wasn’t realising the problem.
recognise I didn’t recognise my old friend. I wasn’t recognising my old friend.
remember He didn’t remember my name. He wasn’t remembering my name
seem The weather seems to be improving. The weather is seeming to be improving.
sound Your idea sounds great. Your idea is sounding great.
suppose I suppose John will be late. I’m supposing John will be late.
surprise The noise surprised me. The noise was surprising me.
understand I don’t understand this question. I’m not understanding this question.
want I want to go to the cinema tonight. I am wanting to go to the cinema tonight.
weigh (=have weight) This cake weighs 450g. This cake is weighing 450g.
wish I wish I had studied more. I am wishing I had studied more.
Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic:
be be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous it means ‘behaving’ or ‘acting’
you are stupid = it’s part of your personality
you are being stupid = only now, not usually
have have (stative) = own
I have a car
have (dynamic) = part of an expression
I’m having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break
see see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand
I see what you mean
I see her now, she’s just coming along the road
see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with
I’ve been seeing my boyfriend for three years
I’m seeing Robert tomorrow
taste (also: smell, feel, look)
taste (stative) = has a certain taste
This soup tastes great
taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting
The chef is tasting the soup
think think (stative) = have an opinion
I think that coffee is great
think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head
what are you thinking about? I’m thinking about my next holiday
Some verbs are only (or mostly) used in simple tenses, and are not used in continuous
tenses. An example of a simple tense is the present simple, or the past simple. An
example of a continuous tense is the present continuous or past continuous. These
verbs are called stative, or state verbs. A verb which isn’t stative is called a dynamic
verb, and is usually an action. Often stative verbs are about liking or disliking
something, or about a mental state, not about an action.
verb correct wrong
agree She didn’t agree with us. She wasn’t agreeing with us.
appear It appears to be raining. It is appearing to be raining.
believe I don’t believe the news. I am not believing the news.
belong This book belonged to my grandfather. This book was belonging to my
grandfather.
concern This concerns you. This is concerning you.
consist Bread consists of flour, water and yeast. Bread is consisting of flour, water
and yeast.
contain This box contains a cake. This box is containing a cake.
depend It depends on the weather. It’s depending on the weather.
deserve He deserves to pass the exam. He is deserving to pass the exam.
disagree I disagree with you. I am disagreeing with you.
dislike I have disliked mushrooms for years. I have been disliking mushrooms for years.
doubt I doubt what you are saying. I am doubting what you are saying.
feel (=have opinion) I don’t feel that this is a good idea. I am not feeling that this is a good
idea.
fit This shirt fits me well. This shirt is fitting me well.
hate Julie’s always hated dogs. Julie’s always been hating dogs.
hear Do you hear music? Are you hearing music?
imagine I imagine you must be tired. I am imagining you must be tired.
impress He impressed me with his story. He was impressing me with his story.
include This cookbook includes a recipe for bread.
This cookbook is including a recipe for bread.
involve The job involves a lot of travelling. The job is involving a lot of travelling.
know I’ve known Julie for ten years. I’ve been knowing Julie for ten years.
like I like reading detective stories. I am liking reading detective stories.
love I love chocolate. I’m loving chocolate.*
matter It doesn’t matter. It isn’t mattering.
mean ‘Enormous’ means ‘very big’. ‘Enormous’ is meaning ‘very big’. measure (=be long)
This window measures 150cm. This window is measuring 150cm.
mind She doesn’t mind the noise. She isn’t minding the noise.
need At three o’clock yesterday I needed a taxi. At three o’clock yesterday I was needing a taxi.
owe I owe you £20. I am owing you £20.
own She owns two cars. She is owning two cars.
prefer I prefer chocolate ice cream. I am preferring chocolate ice cream.
promise I promise to help you tomorrow. I am promising to help you tomorrow.
realise I didn’t realise the problem. I wasn’t realising the problem.
recognise I didn’t recognise my old friend. I wasn’t recognising my old friend.
remember He didn’t remember my name. He wasn’t remembering my name
seem The weather seems to be improving. The weather is seeming to be improving.
sound Your idea sounds great. Your idea is sounding great.
suppose I suppose John will be late. I’m supposing John will be late.
surprise The noise surprised me. The noise was surprising me.
understand I don’t understand this question. I’m not understanding this question.
want I want to go to the cinema tonight. I am wanting to go to the cinema tonight.
weigh (=have weight) This cake weighs 450g. This cake is weighing 450g.
wish I wish I had studied more. I am wishing I had studied more.
Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic:
be be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous it means ‘behaving’ or ‘acting’
you are stupid = it’s part of your personality
you are being stupid = only now, not usually
have have (stative) = own
I have a car
have (dynamic) = part of an expression
I’m having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break
see see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand
I see what you mean
I see her now, she’s just coming along the road
see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with
I’ve been seeing my boyfriend for three years
I’m seeing Robert tomorrow
taste (also: smell, feel, look)
taste (stative) = has a certain taste
This soup tastes great
taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting
The chef is tasting the soup
think think (stative) = have an opinion
I think that coffee is great
think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head
what are you thinking about? I’m thinking about my next holiday
