State Verbs_Overview

English Grammar & Use - B1+ Suite

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STATE & ACTION

VERBS

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OUTCOME STATEMENT: Deeper undesrtanding of the diferences in use between State & Action verbs.

STUDY TIME QUIZ

A4E B+ GRAMMAR SUITE: STATE VERBS screen 1 of 3

State & Action Verbs

At the level this guide is aimed at, B1 and up, I'm sure you already know the difference between States & Actions, but a reminder won't hurt. Click below for a micro review

STATES

ACTIONS

State Verbs

• Describe a condition or situation that exists over a period of time.

• Common examples include "know," "believe," "love," "own," and "seem."

• Are typically used to express thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being, and measurements.

• Do not generally have a continuous or progressive form.

e.g I love dark chocolate - I've always loved dark chocolate - I will love dark chocolate forever!

BUT BEWARE! Some state verbs do have a continuous form, however the meaning is always different from the state meaning

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A4E B+ GRAMMAR SUITE: STATE VERBS screen 2 of 3

Look at sentences 1 - 12 below. Click the 'thumbs up' icon if you reckon they are correct in standard English. If you think they are wrong, click the 'thumbs down' icon.

To Reckon Informal believe - be of the opinion that e.g. I reckon that I will pass the exam. Which team do you reckon will win?

States or not? - A Challenge

You were right! 7. I'm having a headache today. is an ERROR in English (I have a headache = correct)

You were wrong!! 1. I'm loving it! is not standard English (I love it! = correct)

You were right! 1. I'm loving it! is not standard English (I love it! = correct)

You were wrong!! 7. I'm having a headache today. is an ERROR in English (I have a headache = correct)

7. I'm having a headache today.

1. I'm loving it!

You were wrong!! 8. I'm having a party next weekend. is correct in standard English

You were right! 8. I'm having a party next weekend. is correct in standard English

You were right! 2. I've been knowing him since primary school is an ERROR in English (I've known him since... = correct)

You were wrong!! 2. I've been knowing him since primary school is an ERROR in English (I've known him since... = correct)

8. I'm having a party next weekend.

2. I've been knowing him since primary school

You were right! 9. I'm wanting a coke, please. is an ERROR in English (I want a coke, please = correct)

You were wrong!! 9. I'm wanting a coke, please. is an ERROR in English (I want a coke, please = correct)

You were wrong!! 3. I've been wanting to come here for ages! is correct in standard English

You were right!! 3. I've been wanting to come here for ages! is correct in standard English

9. I'm wanting a coke, please.

3. I've been wanting to come here for ages!

You were right! 10. We've been seeing each other for 2 years is correct in English

You were wrong!! 10. We've been seeing each other for 2 years is correct in English

You were wrong!! 4. I'm seeing the sea, we'll be there soon is an ERROR in English (I can see the sea,... = correct).

You were right! 4. I'm seeing the sea, we'll be there soon. is an ERROR in English (I can see the sea,... = correct)

10. We've been seeing each other for 2 years

4. I'm seeing the sea, we'll be there soon.

You were wrong!! 11. I'm smelling the milk to see if it's gone off. is correct in English

You were right! 11. I'm smelling the milk to see if it's gone off. is correct in English

You were right! 5. This soup tastes too salty! is correct in English

You were wrong!! 5. This soup tastes too salty! is correct in standard English

11. I'm smelling the milk to see if it's gone off.

5. This soup tastes too salty!

You were right! 12. I've been having my car for 5 years. is an ERROR in English (I've had my car for 5 years = correct)

You were wrong!! 12. I've been having my car for 5 years. is an ERROR in English (I've had my car for 5 years = correct)

You were correct! 6. I'm thinking he's wrong. is an ERROR in English (I think he's wrong = correct)

You were wrong!! 6. I'm thinking he's wrong. is an ERROR in English (I think he's wrong = correct)

12. I've been having my car for 5 years.

6. I'm thinking he's wrong.

How many did you get right? Did any of them surprise you? I'm sure you want to know why you got some of them wrong! So,

Let's investigate!

A4E B+ GRAMMAR SUITE: STATE VERBS screen 3 of 3

Work through the windows to investigate State verbs and how some of them are used in continuous forms.

3. Love & Want Live, Work & Study

1. State Verb Overview

2. FOCUS: Verbs & Multiple Meanings

The End

When used in simple tenses, these verbs mean:

Think = 'in my/your opinion'

Do you think I should buy this Jacket? No, I don't think you should.

I've always thought Harry Potter is just for kids, not adults

Be = 'by character' & 'often exhibits'

Jim is a friendly type of guy, I think you'll get on with him.

Paul is a little stupid somethimes.

Have & Have Got = 'possess', 'own' or 'afflicted by illness'

I have 2 dogs

I've got an SUV. It's a nightmare to park

I've got a headache.

I have a nasty cold

See = 'understand' or 'have sight of'

I don't see the point in learning Esperanto.

I see the sea now, we'll be there in 5 minutes

Do you see my point?

Taste/Taste like (& smell, feel, look) = 'is a characteristic of'

This wine tastes acidic, let's throw it away.

Gorgonzola smells like old shoes.

When used in continuous tenses, the same verbs mean:

Seeing = 'Meeting with' or 'frequenting'

I've been seeing the doctor a lot recently. (= many appointments)

I've been seeing my partner for over a year now. (= frequenting)

I'm having a party for my birthday! (= holding/organising)

I've been having lots of pizza recently. (= eating)

Being = 'exhibiting/performing temporarily'

Jim is being really unfriendly today, I wonder what's wrong?

Ignore Paul, he's just being stupid again.

Thinking = 'focusing my mind on' or 'considering'

What are you thinking about? My summer holidays!

I've been thinking about my life, I need a change!

Having + certain nouns form fixed, dynamic expressions

Tasting (& smelling etc) = 'performing the verb action'

I'm tasting the soup to see if there's enough salt in it.

I'm smelling the milk to see if it's OK or if it's gone off.

LOVE

WANT

WANT

Want, like Love, is a STATE verb and so isn't normally used in continuous tenses. 'I want a coke, please' not 'I'm wanting a coke, please' That said, it's standard English to use the phrase: I've been wanting to go parachuting for ages This basically means the same as:

• I've wanted to...for a long time

or

• I've been intending to... for a long time

It's acceptable because one focus of Present Perfect Continuous is repetition of things during a present time period, so the communication inside 'I've been wanting to...' is actually that the state, 'want', has been repeated during a time period.

Love is a STATE verb and as such, should not be used in continuous tenses. 'I love you' said the man to his wife. 'I love it when it's warm and sunny. I hate it when it's wet and windy'. However, thanks to a certain American fastfood chain, a generation of learners think that 'I'm loving it!' is completely normal, correct English. It isn't. It's an advertising message. That said, it is acceptable to exclaim 'I'm loving this book' so long as you understand that you are actually saying 'I'm really enjoying this book' (Enjoy is an action verb and so can be used in both simple and continuous forms). So, it's acceptable to use it in real life. Don't use it in an exam.

LIVE - WORK - STUDY

Live, Work, Study are not state verbs and so can be used in both simple and continuous tenses However, when answering the typical question "HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING (WORKING/STUDYING)? you need to make a choice! If the time period is 'LONG' use a PERFECT SIMPLE FORM. Simple forms highlight 'permanent/long-term' actions and situations e.g. I have lived in Rome since 1997 - I have worked as a teacher for 25 years - I have studied humanity since I was a child but, If you consider the situation to be TEMPORARY in nature or the period is 'SHORT', then use a PEFECT CONTINUOUS FORM. Continuous forms highlight impermanence/limited periods e.g. I have been living in Milan for 6 weeks - I have been working hard on this project for 6 months - I have been studying Bloom's Taxonomy for a few weeks

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Now do the practice exercises on the Aim4 site

Come back soon to review & consolidate.

Also known as progressive verbs, continuous verbs or dynamic verbs, are used to indicate actions or events that are ongoing at a specific moment in time.

ACTION VERBS

Key Characteristics of Action Verbs:

1. Ongoing Action Action verbs emphasize that an action is in progress at a particular moment. This moment can be in the present, past, or future. e.g. He is driving - He was driving - He will be driving 2. Linked to Specific Moment The use of action verbs links the action to a specific time frame. This can be 1. a precise moment (e.g. 'now') - or - 2.a period during which the action is happening (e.g. 'this week'). e.g. 1. I am eating now. (Present Continuous) 2. I have been eating a lot this week. (Present Perfect Continuous)

3. Interruptibility Action verbs often imply that the action can be interrupted or is temporarily ongoing. This is particularly evident in the past & past perfect continuous forms, where an action in progress is interrupted by another action. e.g. I was watching TV when the phone rang. (The ongoing action of watching TV was interrupted by the phone ringing.) I had been driving for 2 hours when my car broke down. (The break down interrupted/stopped my driving) 4. Temporary in Nature Actions described by action verbs are often seen as temporary or not permanent. Compare: She has been living in Paris for a few months She has lived in Paris for years.

These verbs are formed using the present participle (the -ing form) combined with a form of the verb "to be" (am, is, are, was, were).

In summary, action verbs are also called progressive because they capture the ongoing, continuous nature of actions tied to specific moments, often emphasizing their temporary and interruptible qualities. These nuances enhance the precision and richness of communication in English.

The use of the continuous form highlights the temporary, or short-term nature of the situation

The use of the simple form highlights the permanent, or long-term nature of the situation

STATE or NON-PROGESSIVE VERBS

State, stative or non-progressive verbs are a category of verbs which are not usually used in Continuous Tenses because they do not describe actions. They are usually only used in Simple Tenses.

So, what are 'states'? (click the shapes one by one)

1. States are often non-dynamic characteristics of a thing or person. These characteristics are non-progressive and general in nature. They are permanent, long-lasting or slow-changing in nature.

He is friendly (Friendliness is one of his characteristics, it doesn't change day to day)He is moody (Moodiness is one of his characteristics. His moods may change day to day, but the fact that he is moody doesn't) I like reading. (My enjoyment of books is characteristic. It doesn't change day to day or moment to moment)

2. Some states are long-lasting:

others are temporary:

I want to go now

I've always liked reading

3. States are generally 'binary', i.e. 'on/off' or 'true/false' in meaning This means they don't express situations 'in progress' or things that are 'in flux & changing' and can't be interrupted.

"ON"

I am British.I have 2 dogs. I recognise him. I know him. I understand French.

"OFF"

I'm not Italian.I don't have any cats. I don't recognise him. I don't know him. I don't understand Russian.

4. Most state verbs belong in one of the 4 following groups:

MENTAL & EMOTIONAL STATES e.g.

• Know
• Believe
• Understand

• Agree

• Like

• Love
• Hate

• Want

POSSESSION & EXISTENCE e.g.

• Have
• Own
• Possess
• Belong (to)

• Be
• Exist
• Hold

• Contain

CHARACTERISTCS & MEASUREMENTS e.g.

• Look & Look like
• Seem & Seem like
• Sound & Sound like

• Cost
• Weigh
• Measure

SENSE & PERCEPTION e.g.

• See
• Hear
• Smell

• Taste
• Feel (with regard to tactile sensation)

5. To express a change in state, we need to use a dynamic verb together with the state verb

I'm starting to understand state verbs now!

I'm understanding state verbs now!

NOT

I'm getting to know him better now!

NOT

I'm knowing him better now!

Downloadlist of State Verbs