In English, stative verbs are used to indicate a state, not an action. These verbs are often used to talk about a state of mind, emotion, perception, or possession. Stative verbs are not usually used in the progressive form (with -ing) because they do not indicate an action.
Most Used Stative Verbs
| Mental states: understand, know, believe, desire, doubt, remember, wish, realize, recognize, suppose, prefer Emotional states: love, like, dislike, hate, fear, need, want, astonish, care, envy, mind, please, surprise Possession: have, belong, owe, own, possess Senses: feel, taste, smell, see, hear, look, appear, seem Others: be, contain, cost, deserve, equal, exist, involve, lack, matter, perceive, promise, resemble |
Non-Progressive Usage
Since most stative verbs do not have the '-ing' suffix, the simple present tense is used to talk about a situation at the moment of speaking, not the present continuous tense.
✓ I know John.
✗ I’m knowing John.
✓ I want to drink water.
✗ I’m wanting to drink water.
✓ I don't understand you.
✗ I’m not understanding you.
✓ I will be there, I promise.
✗ I will be there, I’m promise.
✓ I agree with you.
✗ I am agreing with you.
Progressive and Non-Progressive Usage
In English, some verbs can be used to indicate both an action and a state. Generally, the meanings of these verbs are different from each other. Stative meaning is used in non-progressive form, and active meaning is used in progressive form.
Have
Here are some usages where have indicates both action and state.
| State |
Action |
| have a car have a house have money have a friend have black hair have a right have a chance |
have breakfast have tea have a shower have a holiday have a break have a word have a good time |
When the verb 'have' indicates possession, it is not used in the progressive form.
• I have a red car.
• I don't have any money.
When the verb 'have' indicates an action, it can be used in the progressive form.
• We're having breakfast now.
• I'm having a good time here.
Be
The structure 'be + adjective' is used to describe a person.
• She is very lazy.
• He is a rude man.
The structure 'being + adjective' is used to indicate the behavior of a person at the moment of speaking.
• She is being lazy.
• He is being rude to me.
Some adjectives are not used in the 'being + adjective' structure as they will not change regardless of the moment of speaking.
✓ He is old.
✗ He is being old.
Think
If 'think' is used in the non-progressive form, it indicates that the person has an idea or belief - a state; if it is used in the progressive form, it indicates the process of thinking - an action.
• I think you are right.
• I am thinking of you.
Taste
If 'taste' is used in the non-progressive form, it indicates that something has a taste - a state; if it is used in the progressive form, it indicates the process of tasting something - an action.
• The food tastes delicious.
• He is tasting the food.
Smell
If 'smell' is used in the non-progressive form, it indicates that something has a smell - a state; if it is used in the progressive form, it indicates the process of smelling something - an action.
• The rose smells nice.
• She is smelling the rose.
See
If 'see' is used in the non-progressive form, it indicates understanding or seeing something - a state, if it is used in the progressive form, it indicates meeting someone - an action.
• I see what you mean.
• I'm seeing my friend tomorrow.
Look&Feel
The verbs 'look' and 'feel' can be used in both non-progressive and progressive forms. Although the meanings are the same, if the the progressive form is used, the moment of speaking is emphasized.
• You look awful.
• You're looking awful.
• I feel sick.
• I'm feeling sick.