Today we have we'll talk O stative verbs - stative verbs in English. We know that all verbs denote action. For example, let's take the most simple verbs:
jump - jump
walk - walk
fly- to fly
want - want
like - like
We can depict the first three verbs, since these are action verbs. We cannot depict the last two verbs - want and like; these are the verbs that are called state verbs. Since our state verbs do not have action, we cannot emphasize the duration of this action; accordingly, such verbs cannot be used in continuous tense, but there are exceptions here, which we will also talk about below.
Categories of stative verbs in English
All stative verbs can be divided into several categories. Below we will analyze each of the categories with examples.
Sensory perception
- see - to see
- hear - to hear
- taste - have a taste
- smell - have a smell
Mental activity
- know - know
- think - think
- believe - believe
- doubt - to doubt
- feel - feel
- guess - guess
- imagine - imagine
- mean - to imply
- realize - imagine (understand)
- recognize - recognize
- remember - remember
- suppose - believe
- understand - to understand
- deny - deny
- promise - promise
- agree - agree
- disagree - disagree
- mind - to object
Desires
- want - want
- wish - to wish
- desire - to feel the desire (to want)
Feelings
- love - to love
- like - like
- dislike - don't like it
- hate - to hate
- prefer - to prefer
Expressing abstract connections
- be - to be
- have - to have
- contain - contain
- depend - depend
- belong - belong
- concern - touch
- deserve - deserve
- fit - to fit
- include - contain
- involve - involve
- lack - to lack (to need something)
- matter - matter
- need - to need
- owe - owe
- own - own
- appear - appear
- resemble - resemble
- seem - seem
Description of the physical properties of objects
- measure - to measure
- taste - have a taste
- smell - have a smell
- sound - sound
- weigh - weigh
Effects or influences
- astonish - to surprise
- impress - to make an impression
- please - please
- satisfy - satisfy (please)
- surprise - to surprise
All of the above verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses, BUT there are exceptions that you should be aware of.
Exceptions
Exceptions include treacherous verbs, which may carry different meanings. Let's look at each of these verbs in more detail.
Verb think
What do you think about my new car? What do you think about my new car? The verb think means to have an opinion.
I am thinking about buying the house. I'm thinking about buying a house. The verb think can be used in continuous tenses to mean reflect, think. This is a long process. We can think for two weeks or for several years. Therefore, the timing is continuous in in this case appropriate
She is weird. She is strange. In this case, we are talking about the fact that the person is strange in life. That is, we are talking about a characteristic feature of a person.
She is being weird. She's acting strange. Here we already mean that a person is strange only in this period time. In general, the person is not like that. In this case, it is appropriate to use continuous tense.
Verb have
I have a book. I have a book. In such sentences, the use of continuous tense is inappropriate.
I am having a shower. I am taking a shower. The verb have can be used in continuous tense if verb have stands as part of the expression: have a party, have a shower, have a bath, have a picnic, have a good time, have a breakfast and so on.
Verb admire
I admire this girl. I admire this girl. The verb admire, meaning to admire, is not used in continuous tense.
Are you admiring the sunset? Do you admire the sunset? The verb admire, meaning to admire, can be used in continuous tense.
I see the results. I see results. In this case, we are talking about the fact that the person is strange in life. That is, we are talking about a characteristic feature of a person.
I am seeing my girlfriend tomorrow. I'm meeting my girlfriend tomorrow. The verb see in the meaning to meet, to see each other can be used in continuous tense.
In English there are a number of specific verbs that have their own characteristics and are not used in groups of long tenses.
Concepts of dynamic and static verbs
Verbs in English can be roughly divided into two subcategories: static and dynamic.
Dynamic imply physical action, activity, development, movement. They are used in all tense forms, including the group of continuous tenses. There are several interesting features that distinguish them from static ones. Actions expressed by dynamic verbs can be consciously performed within a certain period of time and the duration of the process can be controlled. For example, words such as run (run), read (read), speak (speak), learn (teach), dance (dance), work (work). In addition, this activity can be depicted. For example, draw, capture on camera or photograph in the process.
Static verbs express not a process, but a state. These are the verbs that are not used in the Continuous. The name stative verbs comes from the word state - state. There are also names such as nonprogressive, non-action verbs. They are used to describe existing conditions.
Features of static verbs
At first glance, it may seem difficult to remember the following list of unrelated foreign words. However, the most important thing here is to understand the principle. There are several features that will help you see the essence:
- these verbs do not denote a physical action or process;
- some of them convey those states that arise on their own, regardless of a person’s intention (smell - smell, hear - hear);
- some of the words mean a lightning-fast action that cannot occur over a long period of time (notice - notice).
Verbs not used in Continuous (Stative Verbs)
For more convenient memorization Stative Verbs are conventionally divided into thematic subgroups.
1. Mental activity and state of consciousness:
- agree/disagree - to agree/disagree;
- believe - to believe, to place hopes, to trust;
- deny - deny;
- doubt - to doubt;
- expect - expect;
- forget - forget;
- know - to have an idea, to know, to be aware;
- mean - to mean;
- mind - to be against, to object;
- realise - to realize;
- recognize - find out;
- understand - to comprehend, interpret, understand.
2. Verbs not used in the Continuous are used to express emotional states and feelings:
- admire - to admire, admire;
- appreciate - to evaluate, appreciate;
- impress - to impress;
- respect - to respect;
- love - to love, adore;
- hate - to hate, to dislike;
- seem - to seem;
- envy - to envy;
- trust - to trust.
3. Desire, preferences:
- desire - to wish;
- need - to need;
- prefer - give preference;
- want - want;
- wish - strive, desire, make a request.
4. Words that denote the perception of the senses (verbs not used in the Continuous).
Often used with modal verbs can, could to indicate perception at the moment of narration:
- hear - to hear;
- see - look, see;
- smell - to give off an aroma, to smell;
- taste - to have a taste.
5. Belonging, attitude:
- belong - to belong, to be someone's property, to belong to (a group), to be appropriate;
- concern - relate, touch, be concerned, be interested in, deal with;
- consist - consist of containing;
- contain - contain, contain;
- depend (on) - depend (on someone, something), rely on (someone), count;
- differ - have a difference, disagree;
- equal - to be equal, to be similar, to draw an analogy;
- fit - fit, combine, correspond;
- have - to have;
- include - include, cover;
- involve - to involve;
- lack - lack;
- matter - to matter, to be important;
- owe - to owe, to have a debt;
- own - to possess;
- possess - to own, possess;
- resemble - resemble, be similar.
Mixed verbs
Eat certain group static verbs that are used in the group of continuous tenses. But at the same time they acquire slightly different shades of meaning. These are polysemic words that hide more than one meaning.
| word | state | action |
| think | believe | ponder |
| see | see | meet, make an appointment |
| taste | have taste | taste |
| smell | have a smell, give off an aroma, smell | smell, smell |
| look | seem | look |
| weigh | to weight | weigh |
| remember | remember | recall |
| be | be (constantly) | to be in the sense of “to be temporarily in a certain state” |
| feel | feel, sense | feel |
| fit | fit, fit | install, mount, equip, equip |
| appear | seem | appear |
Some verbs that are not used in the Continuous can sometimes be used in the continuous form to demonstrate strong emotions, admiration or indignation:
I am loving this city! - I love this city!
She"s hating that book. - She hates that book.
Verbs to be and to have
To be sometimes used in English in the form of the continuous tense when it is necessary to emphasize the behavior of a person or the state in which he is at the moment.
Verb be in is formed using a combination was, were and present participles with an ing ending ( being).
Verb have V Present Continuous used only in some cases. In the English language there are certain stable expressions that form a single whole.
In the role auxiliary verb in this case the word “to be” appears. Therefore, you should not make the mistake of using Continuous. In this case, the third person form is formed using a combination of the auxiliary verb is And semantic verb with ending -ing(present participle).
Examples of using mixed verbs
Any theoretical material it is much easier to master if you illustrate the rules with specific ones that are not used in the Continuous; they are quite easily remembered due to the understanding of the principle and the division into semantic subgroups. And with memorizing mixed verbs, some difficulties may arise due to polysemy (that is, polysemy).
One of the best ways master new material in grammar is to come up with a few examples on your own specific topic and begin to include them in your speech, using them in dialogues, as well as when writing essays.
Even if you have recently started learning English, you are probably well aware of verbs such as: know, love, see, hear, think, etc. Most likely, you yourself often resort to using them when constructing various phrases. And this is not at all surprising, because in everyday colloquial speech similar verbs occur quite often.
However, many students of English often admit common, initial stage and not only, errors associated with the use of these verbs, with which you need to be especially careful. For those who do not want to put up with such a situation and are determined to correct the current situation, I recommend reading this article. In it we will discuss the features of some verbs (given in the introductory part and not only), as well as various circumstances in which their use in one form or another is appropriate. So let's get started.
If you are not yet familiar with such a phenomenon in English as stative verbs, then now is the time to get to know it better.
These are verbs whose name comes from the word state, meaning “state” or “position”. There are also other variants of names, such as non-action verbs or nonprogressive verbs. These verbs differ from the verbs we are accustomed to in that they do not serve to describe any actions or events, but to express existing situations or states. For example:
I am sure Sue will get this job. She knows* three foreigne languages and has* all the necessary qualifications for it. - I'm sure Sue will get the job. She knows three foreign languages and has all the necessary skills for this.
*knows and has, as well as the verbs given at the beginning of the article, are stative verbs. Unlike action verbs, which describe specific actions, such as read, write, or work, non-action verbs express various states, feelings or processes associated with mental activity. For example, has describes the state of possessing the necessary skills, and know is the result of a person’s mental activity.
So, let's turn to a more complete and ordered list of static verbs, or as they are also called state verbs. Stative verbs include descriptive verbs:
- Human mental activity (know - know, understand - understand, believe - believe, think* - think, remember* - remember, forget* - forget)
- Desires (want* - want, wish - desire, desire - strongly desire)
- Emotional state (love - to love, like - like, prefer - to prefer, hate - to hate, dislike - to experience hostility, envy - to envy, respect - to respect)
- Belonging (have* - to have, own - to own, belong - to belong)
- Sensory perception (taste* - to have a taste, smell* - to have an odor, hear - to hear, feel* - to touch, see* - to see)
- And other existing states (seem - seem, look* - look, appear* - seem, sound - sound, cost* - cost, weigh* - weigh, be* - be, exist - exist)
In accordance with one of their names, most nonprogressive verbs are not used in progressive or continuous tenses, i.e. with the ending –ing.
However, verbs marked with an asterisk can describe not only various states, but also actions, i.e. be both static and dynamic. It is precisely these stative verbs that take on different meanings depending on the situation that we will pay close attention to. Let's look at examples for comparison:
Verb taste
Right now the chef is tasting the sauce. “Right now the cook is tasting the sauce.” (action)
The sauce tastes too salty. - The sauce tastes too salty. (state)
Verb smell
These flowers smell good. - These flowers smell nice. (state)
Right now Tom is smelling the flowers. – Tom is smelling flowers right now. (action)
Verb think
I think Bob is a kind man. - I think (believe) that Bob a kind person. (state)
I am thinking about English grammar now. - I'm thinking about English grammar Now. (action)
Verb see
I see a butterfly. Do you see it too? - I see a butterfly. Do you see her too? (state)
Tom is seeing a doctor about his headaches. – Tom is coming See your doctor about your headaches. (action)
Verb look
Sue looks very happy. – Sue looks very happy. (state)
Tina is looking out the window now. – Tina is looking out the window now. (action)
Verb appear
Sam appears to be sad. - Sam seems sad. (state)
When the sun rises, it is appearing from below the horizon. - When the sun rises, it appears from behind the horizon. (action)
Verb feel
Sue is feeling the cat's fur. – Sue touches the cat's fur. (action)
The cat's fur feels soft. – Cat fur is soft to the touch. (state)
Verb have
Tom has a car. - Tom has a car. (state)
We are having a good time* at the party. - We're having a good time at the party. (action)
*the verb have denotes action in the following common phrases:
- have a good time/a bad time - have a good/bad time
- have a rest/a talk - rest/talk
- have breakfast/lunch/dinner/supper - have breakfast/lunch/dinner
- have a cup of tea/a cup of coffe/a glass of water - drink a cup of tea/coffee/glass of water
- have a bath/a shower - take a bath/shower
Verb remember
I remember my first teacher. Do you remember yours? - I remember my first teacher. Do you remember yours? (state)
I am remembering the wonderful days of my childhood. - I remember beautiful days your childhood (action)
Verb weigh
This piano is too heavy for me to lift. It weighs too much. - This piano is too heavy for me to lift. It weighs too much. (state)
Right now the grocer is weighing the bananas. - Right now the seller is weighing bananas. (action)
Now you know that in addition to dynamic verbs that describe certain physical actions, there are also state verbs that are not used in tenses Continuous groups. However, some static verbs, in certain situations, can act as action verbs and it is important to take this into account when talking with your interlocutor in order to avoid common grammatical errors.
Go to full
Verbs of the English language, as is known, are divided into many categories: from the point of view of transitivity and intransitivity, by their role in the sentence (main and auxiliary), and by the formation of forms (regular and irregular). There is another classification that is not so clearly reflected in the Russian language - this is state verbs and action verbs, or, as they are called, verbs of state and action.
This division plays quite a role in the language important role, since the type of form used largely determines how sentences will be constructed, as well as what tense will need to be used. In order to understand both types, it is necessary to determine when the types are used and what use is typical for them.
Action Verbs
C English verbs the actions are quite simple: these are forms that are capable of forming long time and show the process (they are sometimes called dynamic verbs). It would be very difficult to list the entire list of such words, since there are many of them. Simply put, these are standard action words that convey not sensations, but real process– run, read, swim, follow, etc.
Stative structures have a different principle of formation and use, so it is worth dwelling on their features, both grammatical and lexical, in more detail.
State Verbs
Stative verbs in English are called that for a reason. The fact is that they can be used solely to show a certain phase of an action, its state, and not a long process. Feature this category, that it uses verbs that are not used in the Present Continuous and any other continuous tense. Static verbs have several subtypes, all of which are not used in the Continuous for reasons characteristic of the English language. Here are examples of which state verbs are usually highlighted:
- verbs of feelings, that is, those that convey emotional condition person – love, hate, like, adore, etc.;
- verbs of perception that reflect not emotions, but physical senses through which a person perceives the world. To the words sensory perception include observe, hear, see, smell, etc.;
- static words emphasizing mental activity– know, understand, believe, suppose, etc.;
- state verbs, displaying abstract relations – belong, possess, have, etc.;
- actions expressing desires and intentions – wish, intend, want, etc.
Note: Quite often, even words that are not used in continuous constructions can be used to show a process. Such situations are relevant in cases where the meaning of such verbs changes, i.e. they acquire something different, not their own. classic meaning. A striking example– smell (smell) and smell (smell). In the first case it is impossible to form a Continuous, but in the second it is possible. Or here: admire in the meaning of “to admire” and admire as “to admire.” The principle is the same as in the example with smell.
Both State and Action Verbs
The rule for dividing action words into action and non-action verbs is not always rigid. The fact is that there are a number of structures that cannot be 100% attributed to any one, but to the second category, that is, they may or may not have Continuous form depending on the situation.
In such forms it is quite great importance has a translation. Most often, any of these verbs is used in a specific context, which you should definitely pay attention to. Depending on the meaning the word acquires, one or another structure is used.
These actions include such as see, have, think, etc., that is, those that can actually be lengthy, but if necessary show certain state. Here are some examples of what this looks like:
· I think she will return as soon as she passes the last exam. I think she'll be back as soon as she passes last exam (verb think conveys the meaning “to believe, to count”)
· I’m thinking about tomorrow’s conference; don't bother me. I’m thinking about tomorrow’s conference, don’t bother me (think conveys the meaning of “to reflect,” i.e., shows the thought process)
Here is another pair that also often has duality of education:
· We have a car, and we don’t want to buy another one. We have a car and we don't want to buy another one (have conveys abstract concept possessions)
· John will call you later; he is having dinner now. John will call you back later, he is having dinner now (have is used in the Continuous, as this word is often part of various set expressions: have shower, have dinner, etc.)
Comparing these two categories will help you hone your skills various exercises with a comparison of action and state verbs. Table with regular and irregular verbs will help you easily find the right option if we're talking about those structures that do not have duration. It is quite important to be aware of this difference, since the type of form used largely determines how the sentence will be constructed and what tense structures should be used in it.
We all know that a verb is an action. For example: run, jump, teach.
However, in English there is separate group verbs that express a state - feelings, emotions, thought processes etc.
There are certain nuances in the use of such verbs. In the article I will tell you which ones.
4 groups of stative verbs in English
State verbs (state/stative verbs)- describe not only the action, but also the state of the object. State is the position in which someone or something is.
For example: She loves him (that is, she is in a state of love).
That is, we do not do anything, this is what happens inside, in the head or heart.
Let's look at the main groups of such verbs:
1. Verbs expressing physical perception
feel - feel, feel
hear - to hear
look - to look, seem (but not in the meaning of “look”)
observe - notice, observe
recognize - recognize, acknowledge
see - to see
seem - seem
smell - have a smell
sound - sound
taste - to taste
distinguish - to distinguish
For example:
I see a house.
I see a house.
I hear only you.
I only hear you.
2. Verbs expressing mental state
know - know
believe - believe
notice - notice
realize - realize
forget - to forget
remember - remember
recognize - recognize
think - think (have an opinion), believe
expect - meaning to think
understand - to understand
see - meaning to understand
seem - seem
mean - to mean, to mean
For example:
They know me.
They know me.
I think he is right.
I think he's right.
3. Verbs expressing emotions and desires
like - like
dislike - don't like it
love - to love
hate - to hate
care - worry
hope - to hope
wish - to wish
want - want
need - to need
prefer - to prefer
mind - worry, worry
For example:
We wanted dessert.
We wanted dessert.
I like music.
I like music.
4. Verbs expressing possession of something
be - to be
belong - belong
own - to possess
have - to have
contain - contain in oneself
cost - cost
seem - seem
need - to need
depend on - depend
come from - to be from
resemble - to be similar
possess - to possess
For example:
This doll belongs to me.
This doll belongs to me.
This costs too much.
It costs too much.
All these verbs have a peculiarity in their use. Let's look at which one.
Features of stative verbs in English
State verbs are never used in the Continuous tense group. We use this group when we want to say that something is in progress. For example, I am swimming, that is, I am in the process of swimming.
They are watch ing TV.
They are watching TV.
He was work ing the whole morning.
He worked all morning.
Read more about these times in the following articles:
Why are these state verbs not used in the Present Continuous?
As we have already seen, this tense is used to emphasize that the action is in progress: we started doing it some time ago, we are doing it now, but after some time we will finish doing it.
To be used in our continuous tense, a verb must be able to last.
For example: to cook - you started cooking, you are cooking now, after some time you will finish.
Returning to our exception verbs. We cannot start smelling (smelling) or hearing (hearing) and finish this process after some time. This is what we do all the time. We are talking about the fact that we can smell and hear. Likewise, forgetting, understanding, or emotions cannot be processes, because otherwise it turns out that these processes began once, are now continuing, and will end someday.
So now let's practice using these verbs.
Reinforcement task
Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments below the article.
1. He wants to see you.
2. She understands physics.
3. This sounds good.
4. I know him.
5. They hate cleaning.