dynamic & stative verbs with ex. + answers

Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs

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and Dynamic Verbs

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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













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.



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

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 – 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."



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



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.



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."



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.



"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 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 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 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.




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.




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.




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.




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.




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.




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.




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.




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.




(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.




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.

dynamic & stative verbs with ex. + answers

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