Stative verbs describe states that last for some time, so we call them non-continuous, and we can’t use them for continuous tenses like the present continuous, or the future continuous. Here is a list of some stative verbs :
Some Stative verbs :
| like | know | belong |
| love | realise | fit |
| hate | suppose | contain |
| want | mean | consist |
| need | understand | seem |
| prefer | believe | depend |
| agree | remember | matter |
| mind | recognise | see |
| own | appear | look (=seem) |
| sound | taste | smell |
| hear | astonish | deny |
| disagree | please | impress |
| satisfy | promise | surprise |
| doubt | think (=have an opinion) | feel (=have an opinion) |
| wish | imagine | concern |
| dislike | be | have |
Dynamic verbs describe an action and we can use them for any tense.
Examples :
- I drink coffee every day.
- I am swimming now.
Some verbs can be both dynamic and stative:
Think
- think (stative) = have an opinion, for example : I think that coffee is great
- think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head, for example : what are you thinking about? I’m thinking about my next holiday
See
- see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand, for example : I see what you mean or I see her now, she’s just coming
- see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with, for example :I’m seeing Robert tomorrow.
Taste
- taste (stative) = has a certain taste, for example : This soup tastes great.
- taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting, for example :The chef is tasting the soup.
