Post on 21-Mar-2017
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
Published by Really Learn English
www.really-learn-english.com
Copyright © 2013 Ola Zur.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form, by any means,
without written permission from the author,
except a reviewer, who may quote
brief passages for a review.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Table of Contents
Stative Verbs and Dynamic Verbs (Action Verbs) ................................................ 4
Overview ........................................................................................................... 4
Stative Verbs ..................................................................................................... 4
Dynamic Verbs .................................................................................................. 6
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs – Going Deeper with Examples and Exercises 7
Dynamic ........................................................................................................ 7
Stative ........................................................................................................... 8
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercises ....................................................... 13
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 01 ................................................. 14
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 01 Answers ................................... 15
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 02 ................................................. 16
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 02 Answers ................................... 17
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 03 ................................................. 18
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 03 Answers ................................... 19
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 04 ................................................. 20
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 04 Answers ................................... 21
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 05 ................................................. 22
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 05 Answers ................................... 23
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 06 ................................................. 24
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 06 Answers ................................... 25
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Stative Verbs and Dynamic Verbs (Action Verbs)
Overview
English verbs can be divided into stative verbs and dynamic verbs (also
called action verbs). Let's go over each group.
Stative Verbs
Stative verbs are verbs that express a state rather than an action.
Examples:
be, seem, love, own, want, sound, have, know, understand.
Emily is sad.
Examples sentences:
She is a great wife.
He seems rather strange.
He wanted to see you.
That sounds awesome!
We have enough things to do.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Stative verbs are usually not used in the progressive tenses.
Examples:
Incorrect: He is wanting to see you.
Correct: He wants to see you.
Incorrect: I am knowing what to do.
Correct: I know what to do.
Incorrect: They are seeming nice.
Correct: They seem nice.
However, if the same verb is used to describe an actual action (not a state),
than it can be used in the progressive tenses.
Example:
When the verb "have" means "own" – it is a state. So we do not use it in
the progressive tenses.
Incorrect: I am having a laptop.
Correct: I have a laptop.
When the verb "have" means "eat" – it is an actual action. So we can use it
in the progressive tenses.
Correct: I am having lunch with Kate.
Correct: I have lunch with Kate.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs
Dynamic verbs are the opposite of stative verbs. They express a real action.
Examples:
Jump, swim, catch, write, call, sleep, hit, open, speak.
John cries.
Example sentences:
They swam to the other side.
She hit me on the head!
Open the window, please.
The dynamic verbs can be used in the progressive tenses.
Correct: He is drinking water.
Correct: He drinks water.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs – Going Deeper with
Examples and Exercises
Dynamic verbs vs. stative verbs can cause confusion among students.
But really they aren't as difficult or as complicated as you may think.
The most important reason you need to know about these is because
stative verbs can't usually be used in the progressive form. But more about
that later!
Firstly, what do the words "dynamic" and "stative" mean?
They aren't very common words in everyday English, but they are grammar
terms you will need to know to understand this subject.
Dynamic
"Dynamic" is an adjective which means something is moving or changing.
In English grammar a "dynamic verb" means that the verb describes an
action rather than a state. Dynamic verbs are sometimes known as "action
verbs."
"Joe is chasing the bus."
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Stative
"Stative" is an adjective which describes something as having a state, or
existing (this is a very uncommon adjective).
In English grammar a "stative verb" means that the verb describes a state
rather than an action.
Stative verbs are sometimes known as "state verbs."
"Kevin wants some ice-cream."
So now you know the meaning of the terms, let's look at some examples!
First, here is a list of some Dynamic verbs. You can see that they are all
used to describe an action, change, or process. Most of them are used to
describe an activity which has a start and an end.
Examples of dynamic verbs:
eat
walk
learn
grow
sleep
talk
write
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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run
read
become
go
These words can all be used in the progressive form.
Example sentences with dynamic verbs:
"I can't talk right now, I'm eating dinner."
Present progressive used to describe an action happening now.
"Sorry, I'm out of breath because I've been running."
Present perfect progressive used to describe an action that started in
the past, continued for some time and has results now.
"I didn't steal the necklace! I was sleeping when someone broke into
the shop!"
Past progressive used to talk about an action that was happening at a
particular time in the past.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Here is a list of some of the Stative verbs. Some of these describe
relationships between things or people (for example, own) and some
describe emotions or states of mind.
Examples of stative verbs:
love
hate
like
prefer
doubt
seem
know
own
understand
Here are some examples, showing that these words cannot be used in the
progressive form.
Correct: "I like chocolate, but I prefer cake."
Incorrect: "I'm liking chocolate but I'm preferring cake."
Correct: "I don't understand you when you speak quickly."
Incorrect: "I'm not understanding you when you speak quickly."
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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There are also some verbs that can be either dynamic or stative, depending
on their meaning and context in the sentence. I'm sure you know by now
that there are many words in English that can have more than one
meaning!
Examples of verbs that can be either dynamic or stative:
think
mind
have
smell
sound
Let's look at some examples of how these verbs are used differently.
Example sentences:
"I think it is wrong to hit children."
Here, think is a stative verb. It means "to have an opinion" and it
cannot be used in the progressive form in this case.
BUT
"I'm thinking about buying a new car."
Here, thinking is describing a process, or an action. Something that is
happening, rather than simply being. So here we can use the
progressive form.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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"I don't mind what we do tonight."
Here, mind means "care about", which is a state of mind, not an
action. Therefore, it is stative.
BUT
"I'm not being nosy. I'm minding my own business!"
Here, minding means "looking after" and is therefore a process and a
dynamic verb.
"I have three brothers."
Have here means "own" and is therefore stative.
BUT
"I'm having a bad time right now. I'll call you when things are
better."
Having in this sentence means the speaker is going through the
process of a bad time. It is therefore dynamic.
All this may seem complicated, but if you read and listen to as much English
as you can, you will soon start to know which verbs sound right in the
progressive. If you keep the basic idea of dynamic verbs vs static verbs in
the back of your mind, it will help you greatly.
Now, let's practice!
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercises
Reminder:
Actions that are in progress now => present progressive
Example: We are walking right now.
States that occur now => simple present
Example: We want to walk now.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 01
1. Actually, that (1)___________ (sound) wonderful.
2. We (2)___________ (cook) right now.
3. I (3)___________ (promise) to be back soon.
4. Frank and his wife (4)___________ (disagree) on this matter.
5. He (5)___________ (own) several large companies.
6. (6)___________ you (7)___________ (hear) Richard's voice now?
7. (8)___________ you (9)___________ (study) at the moment?
8. I (10)___________ (mean) to hurt you.
9. (11)___________ you (12)___________ (mind) taking out the garbage?
10. I seriously ___________ (doubt) it.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 01 Answers
1. Actually, that sounds wonderful.
2. We are cooking right now.
3. I promise to be back soon.
4. Frank and his wife disagree on this matter.
5. He owns several large companies.
6. Do you hear Richard's voice now?
7. Are you studying at the moment?
8. I don't mean to hurt you.
9. Do you mind taking out the garbage?
10. I seriously doubt it.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 02
1. (1)_______________ you (2)_______________ (recognize) this painting
now?
2. He (3)_______________ (appear) a bit snobbish.
3. She (4)_______________ (not wash) the dishes now.
4. (5)_______________ it really (6)_______________ (matter) now?
5. Right now it seems (seem) cold outside.
6. I (7)_______________ (suppose) we could do that, too.
7. Janet (8)_______________ (not realize) how much he loves her.
8. (9)_______________ this dog (10)_______________ (belong) to you?
9. It (11)_______________ (rain) right now.
10. I (12)_______________ (not know) the right answer right now.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 02 Answers
1. Do you recognize this painting now?
2. He appears a bit snobbish.
3. She is not washing the dishes now.
4. Does it really matter now?
5. Right now it seems cold outside.
6. I suppose we could do that, too.
7. Janet doesn't realize how much he loves her.
8. Does this dog belong to you?
9. It is raining right now.
10. I don't know the right answer right now.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 03
1. Jessica (1)_________________ (believe) every word.
2. He (2)_________________ (understand) Italian.
3. I (3)_________________ (wish) we could go home now.
4. Right now you (4)_________________ (not listen) to music.
5. Maggie (5)_________________ (hate) bugs.
6. We (6)_________________ (not agree) on this one.
7. I (7)_________________ (dislike) eating fish.
8. Monkeys (8)_________________ (like) bananas.
9. These monkeys (9)_________________ (eat) bananas now.
10. This diet (10)_________________ (consist) of mainly fruit and
vegetables.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 03 Answers
1. Jessica believes every word.
2. He understands Italian.
3. I wish we could go home now.
4. Right now you are not listening to music.
5. Maggie hates bugs.
6. We don't agree on this one.
7. I dislike eating fish.
8. Monkeys like bananas.
9. These monkeys are eating bananas now.
10. This diet consists of mainly fruit and vegetables.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 04
1. Our book (1)_______________ (include) stories and exercises.
2. They (2)_______________ (remember) what happened.
3. We (3)_______________ (need) a longer rope.
4. You (4)_______________ (not deserve) it.
5. (5)_______________ he (6)_______________ (play) golf at the moment?
6. This (7)_______________ (not concern) us at the moment.
7. I (8)_______________ (love) you.
8. She (9)_______________ (feel) she's not good enough.
9. Our cakes (10)_______________ (not contain) any gluten.
10. They (11)_______________ (jog) now.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 04 Answers
1. Our book includes stories and exercises.
2. They remember what happened.
3. We need a longer rope.
4. You don't deserve it.
5. Is he playing golf at the moment?
6. This doesn't concern us at the moment.
7. I love you.
8. She feels she's not good enough.
9. Our cakes do not contain any gluten.
10. They are jogging now.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 05
1. The answer (1)___________ (depend) on the question.
2. The job (2)___________ (involve) handling several projects at once.
3. Right now I (3)___________ (watch) TV.
4. She (4)___________ (owe) me 100 bucks.
5. Now these shoes (5)___________ (not fit).
6. They (6)___________ (prefer) not to travel at night.
7. Now it (7)___________ (snow) outside.
8. The dogs (8)___________ (bark) now.
9. This suitcase (9)___________ (weigh) too much.
10. We (10)___________ (want) to be alone now.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 05 Answers
1. The answer depends on the question.
2. The job involves handling several projects at once.
3. Right now I am watching TV.
4. She owes me 100 bucks.
5. Now these shoes don't fit (not fit).
6. They prefer not to travel at night.
7. Now it is snowing outside.
8. The dogs are barking now.
9. This suitcase weighs too much.
10. We want to be alone now.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 06
(This is a special exercise with verbs that have both dynamic and stative meanings.)
1. We (1)___________ (be) at the office right now.
2. I (2)___________ (see) that you are busy at the moment.
3. We (3)___________ (have) a coffee.
4. I (4)___________ (think) that's not true.
5. Joe (5)___________ (be) silly again.
6. I (6)___________ (see) Ben. We have a lot of fun together.
7. Your cooking (7)___________ (taste) great.
8. We (8)___________ (have) three kids.
9. We (9)___________ (taste) the cakes now.
10. I (10)___________ (think) about it at the moment.
Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs
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Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs Exercise 06 Answers
1. We are (be) at the office right now.
2. I see (see) that you are busy at the moment.
3. We are having (have) a coffee.
4. I think (think) that's not true.
5. Joe is being (be) silly again.
6. I am seeing (see) Ben. We have a lot of fun together.
7. Your cooking tastes (taste) great.
8. We have (have) three kids.
9. We are tasting (taste) the cakes now.
10. I am thinking (think) about it at the moment.