Pimp my English | Stative verbs

By Anna Malczyk
You know very well by now that a verb is a “doing” word – a word that describes an action taken by a person or object. Within the overall category of verbs, there are many sub-categories. One important one is the “stative” verb.

What is a stative verb?
A stative verb is one that describes the state someone or something is in, and not an actual action that the thing or person is taking. In other words, a stative verbs describes a static and fixed quality, and not a dynamic movement or action.

Why is this important?
In terms of grammar, a stative verb can never be used in the “–ing” form. For example:
•    I am tall.
This describes a fixed, unchangeable state of being, and not an action. You can never say:
•    I am being tall.
This is because tallness is a state, not an action.

Types of stative verbs
For ease of understanding, stative verbs can be divided into four categories:
1.    Verbs of thought (e.g. know, believe, understand)
2.    Verbs of possession (e.g. have, own, want)
3.    Verbs relating to senses (e.g. hear, see, smell)
4.    Verbs of emotion (e.g. love, like, need, hate)
Some examples:
1.    I know how to cook. (Not “I am knowing how to cook.”)
2.    I want to go outside. (Not “I am wanting to go outside”)
3.    I can smell the sea air. (Not “I can be smelling the sea air”)
4.    I like cheese. (Not “I am liking cheese”)

Special cases
Some verbs can be either stative or normal, depending on the context. For example:
•    To be: “I am blonde” (stative – unchanged state) and “I am being sarcastic” (normal – once-off action)
•    To think: “I think cats are the best” (stative – state not action) and “I am thinking about her” (normal – once-off action)

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