STATIVE VERBS

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STATIVE VERBS

• Describe a state rather than an action.

• They aren't usually used in the present continuous form.

STATIVE VERBS

I'm not knowing the answer.

I don't know the answer.

She likes this film.

She's liking this film.

He seems happy at the moment.

He's seeming happy at the moment.

Often relate to:

• Thoughts and opinions: agree, believe, doubt, guess, imagine, know, mean, recognise, remember, suspect, think, understand...

• Feelings and emotions: dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish...
• Senses and perceptions: appear, be, feel, hear, look, see, seem, smell, taste...
• Possession and measurement: belong, have, measure, own, possess, weigh...

• Some verbs can refer to states or actions, depending on the context.

HAVE

• I have an old car. (state – possession)
• I'm having a quick break. (action – having a break is an activity)

SEE

• Do you see any problems with that? (state – opinion)
• We're seeing Tadanari tomorrow afternoon. (action – we're meeting him)

• e)