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GRAMMAR – Activity/State verbs

ACTIVE & STATE VERBS.

GRAMMAR – Active/Dynamic and State verbs

. A verb is one of the most important parts of the sentence .

We distinquish between STATE and ACTIVE verbs

GRAMMAR – Activity and State verbs

. An active (or dynamic) verb describes something you do, or something that happens …. an action.

1) I study English in the school.2) She sleeps in class.3) They swim in the river.

GRAMMAR – Activity and State verbs

. Here are some active verb sentences:verbs can be in both forms – simple and continuous

1a) He studies English a lot. (all the time) b) He is studying currently.2a) They work in a bank. b) They’ve been working since 7 o’clock. c) Now they are working in the garden.

GRAMMAR – Activity and State verbs

. The following are examples of active verbs:

cough

runjump singsleepswimdrive

drink

eat

study

GRAMMAR – Activity and State verbs

. State verbs express the state of being, smell , feelings etc …a state.(the verbs can´t have a continuous form, just simple forms of verbs)1) I love you.2) That car costs a lot of money.3) He understands the question.

GRAMMAR – Activity and State verbs

. Here some state verb sentences:

1a) The flowers smell nice/good.WE DO NOT SAY

b) Those flowers are smelling nice/good.

2a) She heard him sing yesterday.WE DO NOT SAY ale: She was listening to him sing/singing.

b) She was hearing him sing yesterday.

GRAMMAR – Activity and State verbs

. The most important difference between active verbs and state verbs is that active verbs can have a continuous tense and state verbs cannot be used in a continuous tense. Active – simple and continuous State – simple, not continuous

GRAMMAR – Activity and State verbsState verbs are divided into:Verbs related to activities of the mind:admit, agree, believe, know, mean, prefer,

realize, remember, think, understand, want Verbs related to emotions: adore, care, like, dislike, love, hate, hope,

prefer, enjoyHaving or being: appear, be, belong, contain, have, include,

need, seem, possess, own/have – vo význame vlastniť, príp. choroby

Verbs related to senses: feel, hear, look, see, smell, sound, taste…

HAVE We have a second-hand car. (have = possess = own, state) We are having some tea. (have = drink > activity) I have a brother. We don´t say I am having a brother. I have a headache now. NOT I am having a headache. THINK I think it’s a great idea. (think = believe > state) I’m thinking about my exam. (think = consider > activity) I always think about/ of my boyfriend. (activity)

BUT some of state verbs can be used as action verbs with different meanings.

LOOK You look good. ( state) You are looking at me. (activity)SEE I can see you now. ( state) I am seeing a doctor tommorow. ( visiting – activity)

CONSIDER I consider you to be very intelligent. (I think – state), považujem I’m considering a holiday in Holland this summer. (I am planning, thinking ... action) zvažujem

SMELL It smells great. ( state) – vonia to I am smelling the flower . (activity) - ovoniavam

TASTE It tastes delicious. ( state) - chutí. I am tasting it. ( activity) - ochutnávam

Verbs related to senses are followed by adjectives, not adverbs.

The coffee smells great.You look nice.That soup tastes awful.Their new song sounds fantastic

GRAMMAR – Activity and State verbs

. Choose if the verb is active or state:

1) The boy is playing in the park.2) They thought about buying a new

car.3) I’m doing my homework now.4) I love the smell of flowers.5) I think I will go shopping tomorrow.6) He’s thinking about his girlfriend.

GRAMMAR – Activity and State verbs

. Here are some more:

7) He swims every day.8) The dog runs to get a bone.9) I recognize that student from

Paris.10)She likes pizza.11) We always think during our

exams.12) That motorbike belongs to me.

Don’t forget to revise!!

GRAMMAR – Activity and State verbs