Stative verbs express a state rather than action. They are not used in the present continuous form.
Stative: You don’t know the truth.
Incorrect: You are not knowing the truth.
Stative: He really loves his mom.
Incorrect: He’s really loving his mom.
Stative: They seem satisfied with the proposal.
Incorrect: They are seeming satisfied with the proposal.
Uses of Stative Verbs
Stative verbs often express thoughts and opinions, feelings and emotions, senses and perceptions, and possession and measurement.
Thoughts and Opinions
agree, believe, doubt, guess, imagine, know, mean, recognize, remember, suspect, think, understand
Feelings and Emotions
dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish
Senses and Perceptions
appear, be, feel, hear, look, see, seem, smell, taste
Possession and Measurement
belong, have, measure, own, possess, weigh
Stative vs Action Verb
- Some verbs can refer to both state and action, depending on the context.
- In the first example, it is a mental state wherein you express an opinion. Hence, it is in present simple. On the other hand, the second sentence shows that the speaker is presently doing the action of thinking. That is why it is in present continuous.
Stative: We think it’s absolutely perfect.
Action: We are still thinking about it.
- Other verbs that can either be stative or action are the following:
agree, appear, doubt, feel, guess, hear, imagine, look, measure, remember, smell, weigh, wish.
Stative vs Action Verb: Have
Stative (Possession): We have an attic.
Action: We are having a meeting ASAP.
Stative vs Action Verb: See
Stative (Opinion): I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t hire her.
Action: I am seeing Batman Forever this weekend.
Stative vs Action Verb: Be
Stative (Quality): He is very funny.
Action: He is being very funny.
Stative vs Action Verb: Taste
Stative (Perception): These tacos tastes amazing.
Action: The diners are tasting the tacos.