GRAMMAR: Verbs with Stative Meanings

GRAMMAR: Verbs with Stative Meanings (1)

Some English verbs describe states that cannot be described using the progressive verb tenses. These verbs are said to have stative meanings and are often called stative verbs. It is important to be aware, however, that there are some verbs with stative meanings that can be used in the progressive verb tenses because they also have non-stative meanings or uses.

COMMON STATIVE VERBS
The verbs in the list below usually have stative meanings and are almost never used in the progressive verb tenses.
agree amaze appreciate astonish believe belong concern consist contain depend	desire disagree dislike doubt envy equal exist fear hate hear	know like love matter need owe own please possess prefer	realize recognize remember resemble seem sound suppose surprise understand want

COMMON VERBS WITH BOTH STATIVE AND NON-STATIVE MEANINGS OR USES

BE and HAVE The verbs BE and HAVE almost always have stative meanings. Nevertheless, they do have some common non-stative uses.

The verb BE is always stative when it refers to existing states: David is a family physician. It was cold in the fall that year. However, sometimes the construction BE + an adjective is used in the present progressive and the past progressive tenses to describe temporary ongoing behaviour: He is just being polite. Pierre was being very careful. In addition, the verb BE can be used in the present progressive and in the past progressive in passive voice constructions: Cathy is being treated for cancer. They were being followed by a detective.

The verb HAVE is always stative when it expressions possession: Mary has a new car. Bill’s grandfather had an enormous house in London. However, the verb HAVE can be used in the progressive tenses when it means eat or drink: While we were having lunch, the phone rang. He is having a beer with his friend George. In addition, the verb HAVE can be used in the progressive tenses in expressions like have a good time, have fun, have a hard time, and have difficulty: Are you having a good time? She was having difficulty making ends meet.

GRAMMAR: Verbs with Stative Meanings (2)

COMMON VERBS WITH BOTH STATIVE AND NON-STATIVE MEANINGS OR USES

SMELL, TASTE, WEIGH, and FEEL When the verbs SMELL, TASTE, WEIGH, and FEEL are used intransitively to describe something, they almost always have stative meanings. When they are used transitively to describe actions performed to ascertain the state of something, they have non-stative meanings and can be used in the progressive verb tenses. Note, however, that the verb FEEL has more than one stative and non-stative meaning and use.

The verb SMELL always has a stative meaning when it is used intransitively: The bouquet of roses smells lovely. That man on the subway smelled like a brewery. The verb SMELL can be used transitively in the progressive tenses: Mother is smelling the roses that we gave her. The dog was smelling the telephone pole.

The verb TASTE always has a stative meaning when it is used intransitively: This cheese tastes awful. The spaghetti sauce tasted too salty. The verb TASTE can be used transitively in the progressive tenses: While Sue was tasting the wine, the waiter smiled. George is tasting the soup.

The verb WEIGH is always stative when it is used intransitively: Peter weighs about 180 lbs. His laptop computer weighed very little. The verb WEIGH can be used transitively in the progressive tenses: The butcher is weighing the steak on his scale. The witness is weighing his words very carefully.

The verb FEEL always has a stative meaning when it is used intransitively with a non-human subject: This material feels very soft. After the operation, his arm felt sore for several weeks. However, the verb FEEL can be used intransitively in the progressive tenses with a human subject: Sheila is feeling sick today. He has been feeling depressed for weeks. The verb FEEL can be used transitively in the progressive tenses: She is feeling the sleeve of the jacket to see if it is made of wool. The little girl was feeling the kitten’s fur Finally, the verb FEEL always has a stative meaning when it is used as a synonym of the verb think or the verb believe: I feel that the department is spending too much money. Susan feels that we have not given enough attention to this issue.

GRAMMAR: Verbs with Stative Meanings (3)

COMMON VERBS WITH BOTH STATIVE AND NON-STATIVE MEANINGS OR USES

SEE Unlike the verbs SMELL, TASTE, WEIGH, and FEEL, the verb SEE cannot be used in the progressive verb tenses to describe the action of ascertaining the state of something. As a verb of perception, it is always stative. Nevertheless, it does have two very common non-stative meanings that are not specifically related to visual perception, and it can be used in the progressive verb tenses with these meanings.

The verb SEE always has a stative meaning when it is used to describe or express visual perception: When she sees the stain on the carpet, she will be angry. I looked out the window and saw a sailboat on the lake. However, the verb SEE can be used in the progressive tenses when it means meet with someone: Doctor Smith is seeing a patient and cannot come to the phone. I will be seeing her tomorrow morning. The verb SEE can also be used in the progressive verb tenses when it means date someone: Susan is seeing George now. They have been seeing each other for over a month.

COMMON VERBS WITH BOTH STATIVE AND NON-STATIVE MEANINGS OR USES

APPEAR and LOOK The verbs APPEAR and LOOK always have a stative meaning when they are used to describe how someone or something seems to be. However, both verbs can have a non-stative meaning that has nothing to do with seeming to be, and they can be used in the progressive verb tenses with this meaning.

The verb APPEAR is always stative when it means seem: The teacher appears ill. It appears that we were wrong. The verb APPEAR can be used in the progressive tenses when it means participate in a public performance or show: His sister will be appearing in a play on Broadway. My favourite actor is appearing in a new movie.

The verb LOOK is always stative when it is used intransitively to mean appear or seem: It looks cold outside. His sister looked beautiful when I saw her at the dance. The verb LOOK is often used in the progressive tenses as the root verb in a phrasal verb: I am looking for my keys. Have you seen them? She has been looking out the window for hours.

GRAMMAR: Verbs with Stative Meanings (4)

COMMON VERBS WITH BOTH STATIVE AND NON-STATIVE MEANINGS OR USES

MEAN and THINK Like most verbs that describe mental or intellectual states (verbs such as BELIEVE, KNOW, and UNDERSTAND), the verbs MEAN and THINK are almost always stative. However, unlike most other verbs that describe mental or intellectual states, the verbs MEAN and THINK have non-stative meanings, and they can be used in the progressive verb tenses with these meanings.

The verb MEAN is always stative when it is a synonym for signify or imply: The word "horloge" means "clock" in French. What do you mean by that? However, the verb MEAN is sometimes used in the progressive tenses to describe unrealized intentions: I have been meaning to call you for weeks. They were meaning to paint the bathroom, but they did not have enough time.

The verb THINK is always stative when it is used to introduce an opinion or a prediction: He thinks that the Montreal Canadians will win tonight. I think that it will rain tomorrow. However, the verb THINK can be used in the progressive tenses to describe the act of thinking about something: He is thinking about the meeting at noon. She had been thinking about the problem all day.