ACTION AND ACTION AND NON-ACTION VERBSNON-ACTION VERBS

Also called DYNAMIC Also called DYNAMIC andand STATIVE verbsSTATIVE verbs

NON -ACTION VERBS: NON -ACTION VERBS: STATESTATE

A state is when something stays the same.A state is when something stays the same.

Non-action verbs are Non-action verbs are normallynormally not used in not used in the continuous formthe continuous form

ACTION VERBSACTION VERBS

An action is when something happensAn action is when something happens

NON-ACTION VERBSNON-ACTION VERBS

1. VERBS OF THE SENSES1. VERBS OF THE SENSES

Appear Appear

HearHear

Look likeLook like

See See

TasteTaste

NON-ACTION VERBSNON-ACTION VERBS

2. VERBS OF THE FEELINGS2. VERBS OF THE FEELINGSLike Like

HateHate

LoveLove

PreferPrefer

WantWant

WishWish

NON-ACTION VERBSNON-ACTION VERBS

3. VERBS OF THINKING3. VERBS OF THINKINGAgree Agree

BelieveBelieve

ForgetForget

KnowKnow

ThinkThink

UnderstandUnderstand

NON-ACTION VERBSNON-ACTION VERBS

4. VERBS OF POSSESSION4. VERBS OF POSSESSION

Belong to Belong to

ContainContain

HaveHave

OwnOwn

NON-ACTION VERBSNON-ACTION VERBS

5. VERBS OF BEING5. VERBS OF BEING

Be Be

ExistExist

NON-ACTION VERBSNON-ACTION VERBS

6. OTHER VERBS6. OTHER VERBS

Cost Cost

Depend onDepend on

MeanMean

NeedNeed

NON-ACTION VERBS IN THE NON-ACTION VERBS IN THE CONTINUOUS FORM???CONTINUOUS FORM???

It’s OK to use a state verb in the continuous form It’s OK to use a state verb in the continuous form if it expresses a temporary feelingif it expresses a temporary feeling

““-How are you getting on in your -How are you getting on in your new school? new school? -I’M LOVING IT !”-I’M LOVING IT !”

VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS ACTION AND NON- ACTIONACTION AND NON- ACTION

It is possible for some verbs to It is possible for some verbs to express state and action express state and action IF THEY IF THEY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT MEANINGSHAVE TWO DIFFERENT MEANINGS

VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS STATE AND ACTIONSTATE AND ACTION

HAVEHAVE

ActionAction::

““He’s having a shower” (=taking)He’s having a shower” (=taking)

StateState: “He has a house : “He has a house

in London”in London”

VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS STATE AND ACTIONSTATE AND ACTION

THINKTHINK

““He thinks Obama will win theHe thinks Obama will win the

next elections”next elections”

(opinion = state)(opinion = state)

““What are you thinking now?” (action)What are you thinking now?” (action)

VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS VERBS THAT CAN EXPRESS STATE AND ACTIONSTATE AND ACTION

SEESEE

Action: “I’M SEEING my dentist next Action: “I’M SEEING my dentist next Tuesday” (=have an appointment with)Tuesday” (=have an appointment with)

StateState: “ I SEE what you mean” : “ I SEE what you mean” (=understand)(=understand)

Are the following Are the following correct?correct?

IMAGINE YOU MEET A IMAGINE YOU MEET A VISITOR. ARE THESE VISITOR. ARE THESE

QUESTIONS OK?QUESTIONS OK?

FIRST QUESTIONFIRST QUESTION

ARE YOU ENJOYING ARE YOU ENJOYING YOUR VISIT HERE?YOUR VISIT HERE?

It´s OKIt´s OK

SECOND QUESTIONSECOND QUESTION

DO YOU STAY IN A DO YOU STAY IN A HOTEL?HOTEL?

Wrong: It should say “ Are you staying in a Wrong: It should say “ Are you staying in a hotel”?hotel”?

THIRD QUESTIONTHIRD QUESTION

ARE YOU LIKING THE ARE YOU LIKING THE FOOD HERE?FOOD HERE?

Wrong: It should say “Do you like the food Wrong: It should say “Do you like the food here”?here”?

FOURTH QUESTIONFOURTH QUESTION

DO YOU KNOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY? COUNTRY? It´s OKIt´s OK

FIFTH QUESTIONFIFTH QUESTION

IS YOUR HOTEL BEING IS YOUR HOTEL BEING VERY EXPENSIVE?VERY EXPENSIVE?

Wrong: It should say “Is your hotel very Wrong: It should say “Is your hotel very expensive?”expensive?”

SIXTH QUESTIONSIXTH QUESTION

DO YOU HAVE AN DO YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING INTERESTING

HOLIDAY?HOLIDAY? Wrong: It should say “ Are you having an Wrong: It should say “ Are you having an

interesting holiday?”interesting holiday?”

SEVENTH QUESTIONSEVENTH QUESTION

DO YOU OFTEN GO DO YOU OFTEN GO TO OTHER TO OTHER

COUNTRIES?COUNTRIES?It´s OKIt´s OK

EIGHTH QUESTION… AND LAST!EIGHTH QUESTION… AND LAST!

ARE YOU ARE YOU UNDERSTADING MUCH UNDERSTADING MUCH OF OUR LANGUAGE?OF OUR LANGUAGE?

No: It should say “Do you understand much of our No: It should say “Do you understand much of our language?” language?”