Stative Verbs List

Stative verbs

 Unele verbe nu se folosesc de obicei la forma de ”continuous”, chiar si atunci cand

vorbim despre situatii temporare. Acestea sunt denumite verbe de stare.

 Some verbs are not usually used in the continuous form, even when we are talking
about temporary situations or states. These are called stative verbs.

 So, we say: I’m sorry, I don’t understand rather than I’m not understanding.

1. Verbele de stare sunt de obicei verbe ce tin de gandire sau exprimarea opiniei.

Stative verbs are often verbs connected with thinking and opinions.

 She doesn’t know what to do NOT She isn’t knowing what to do

 Do you agree with me?

 I don’t recognise it, do you?

 Alte verbe din aceasta categorie includ: verbe ce defines incredere, indoiala,
presupunere, imaginative, sens, rememorare, gandire(cugetare).

 Other verbs in this group

include: believe, doubt, guess, imagine, mean, remember, think

2. Alte verbe de stare sunt legate de semtimente si emotii.

Other stative verbs are connected with feelings and emotions

 I like this song. Who sings it? NOT I’m liking this song

 What do you want to do now?

 I hate my new boss!

 Alte verbe de stare include: dezaprobarea, iubirea, preferinta, dorinta

 Other stative verbs in this group include: dislike, love, prefer. want, wish

NB – although ‘enjoy’ is a verb of emotion, it is used in the continuous tense(desi

verbul “a face placere” este un verb ce expima o emotie, el se foloseste la aspectul
continuu-continous)

 I’m enjoying the party.

3. ‘see’, ‘hear’, ‘taste’, ‘smell’, ‘feel’ are verbs that describe senses.( a vedea, a auzi, a
gusta, a mirosi, a simti sunt verbe care descriu simturile).

 These verbs aren’t usually used in continuous forms. They are often used with ‘can’.
( Aceste verbe nu sunt de obicei folosite la aspectul continuu. Ele se folosesc de
regula cu verbul “a putea”)

 It smells of smoke in here. NOT It’s smelling of smoke in here

 I can’t see anything. It’s too dark.
4. Stative verbs describe things that are not actions.(Verbele de stare descriu lucruri care
nu sunt actiuni.)

Look carefully at these 2 sentences!

 He smells of fish.

 He’s smelling the fish.

 The second sentence is an action – not a state. The man wants to know if the fish is
OK to eat.( A doua propozitie este o actiune nu o afirmatie. Omul vrea sa stie daca
pestele este bun de mancat. )

 I think we should go to Croatia for our holiday this year.

 Sorry, what did you say? I was thinking about my holiday.

 The first sentence is an opinion but the second sentence is an action.(Prima propozitie
reprezinta o opinie dar a doua propozitie este o actiune.)
Verb Correct ot Correct
agree She didn’t agree with us. She wasn’t agreeing with us.

appear It appears to be raining. It is appearing to be raining.

believe I don’t believe the news. I am not believing the news.

This book was belonging to

belong This book belonged to my my
grandfather. grandfather.

concern This concerns you. This is concerning you.

Bread is consisting of flour,

consist Bread consists of flour, water water
and yeast. and yeast.

contain This box contains a cake. This box is containing a cake.

depend It depends on the weather. It’s depending on the weather.

He deserves to pass the He is deserving to pass the

deserve exam. exam.

disagree I disagree with you. I am disagreeing with you.

I have disliked mushrooms I have been disliking

dislike for mushrooms
years. for years.

doubt I doubt what you are saying. I am doubting what you are
saying.

I don’t feel that this is a I am not feeling that this is a

feel (=have good good
an opinion) idea. idea.

fit This shirt fits me well. This shirt is fitting me well.

Julie’s always been hating

hate Julie’s always hated dogs. dogs.

hear Do you hear music? Are you hearing music?

imagine I imagine you must be tired. I am imagining you must be tired.
impress He impressed me with his story. He was impressing me with his
story.
include This cookbook includes a recipe This cookbook is including a
for bread. recipe for bread.
involve The job involves a lot of The job is involving a lot of
travelling. travelling.
know I’ve known Julie for ten years. I’ve been knowing Julie for ten
years.
like I like reading detective stories. I am liking reading detective
stories.
love I love chocolate. I’m loving chocolate.*
matter It doesn’t matter. It isn’t mattering.
mean ‘Enormous’ means ‘very big’. ‘Enormous’ is meaning ‘very big’.
measure (=be This window measures 150cm. This window is measuring
long) 150cm.
mind She doesn’t mind the noise. She isn’t minding the noise.
need At three o’clock yesterday I At three o’clock yesterday I was
needed a taxi. needing a taxi.
owe I owe you £20. I am owing you £20.
own She owns two cars. She is owning two cars.
prefer I prefer chocolate ice cream. I am preferring chocolate ice
cream.
promise I promise to help you tomorrow. I am promising to help you
tomorrow.
realise I didn’t realise the problem. I wasn’t realising the problem.
recognise I didn’t recognise my old friend. I wasn’t recognising my old
friend.
remember He didn’t remember my name. He wasn’t remembering my name.
seem The weather seems to be The weather is seeming to be
improving. improving.
sound Your idea sounds great. Your idea is sounding great.
suppose I suppose John will be late. I’m supposing John will be late.
surprise The noise surprised me. The noise was surprising me.
understand I don’t understand this question. I’m not understanding this
question.
want I want to go to the cinema I am wanting to go to the cinema
tonight. tonight.
weigh (=have This cake weighs 450g. This cake is weighing 450g.
weight)
wish I wish I had studied more. I am wishing I had studied more.

Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic:

be be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous it
means ‘behaving’ or ‘acting’
you are stupid = it’s part of your personality
you are being stupid = only now, not usually
have have (stative) = own
I have a car
have (dynamic) = part of an expression
I’m having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break
see see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand
I see what you mean
I see her now, she’s just coming along the road
see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with
I’ve been seeing my boyfriend for three years
I’m seeing Robert tomorrow
taste (also: taste (stative) = has a certain taste
smell, feel, This soup tastes great
look) taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting
The chef is tasting the soup
think think (stative) = have an opinion
I think that coffee is great
think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head
what are you thinking about? I’m thinking about my next holiday