5041513 ©Roland Trego 04/15/2013 rev. 4/20/2014 8:50:34 AM

Stative Verbs – Not Usually with the Continuous (-ING)

The following verbs are called stative verbs (静态动词/延续性动词, verbos de estado, глаголы состояния,

They talk about a state of mind or a condition. We don't usually use them with the .(مزاج ,حال��ة

continuous (-ing).

1 believe

2 feel

3 know

4 like/dislike/love/hate

5 mean

6 need

7 prefer

8 promise

9 remember

10 seem

11 sound

12 understand

13 want

Examples

Use the Simple Present (not Present Continuous: am/is/are + verb + ing)

I know the answer. Wrong: I'm knowing the answer.

I believe in god. Wrong: I'm believing in God.

This word means "exit" in Spanish. Wrong: This word is meaning "exit" in Spanish.

He doesn't need a new pair of shoes. Wrong: He isn't needing a new pair of shoes.

He doesn't know her name. Wrong: He isn't knowing her name.

I don't understand why he can't do it. I'm not understanding why he can't do it.

Use the Present Perfect (not Present Perfect Continuous: have/has been + verb + ing)

I have known her for a long time. Wrong: I have been knowing her for a long time.

He hasn't needed any help lately. Wrong: He hasn't been needing any help lately.

Sometimes Stative,

Sometimes with Continuous (-ING)

Different Meanings The following verbs can be used with both stative or the continuous, but their meaning changes.

be

have

hear

look

see

smell

taste

think

14 Be (with the continuous) tells how someone is acting/behaving* right now, not how they usually act. *言行举止, comportarse, вести себя, يتصرف

� He's being childish. = He's behaving like a child right now. He doesn't usually behave that way. 幼稚的/天真的, infantil/pueril, ребя́ческий, طفول��������ي

� You're being impolite. = Only now. You're not usually impolite.

� He's being a baby! = Right now he is behaving like a child. He doesn't usually act/behave that way.

15 Be (stative, no -ing)

� He is a baby. = He is a very young child.

� She is a lawyer.

� He is stubborn.= He's always stubborn, not just right now. It's part of his personality.

� He is a brat. 顽童, 小捣蛋, mocoso/niño maleducado, отро́дье, طفل شقي = He is usually/always a brat.

5041513 ©Roland Trego 04/15/2013 rev. 4/20/2014 8:50:34 AM

16 Have (with continuous): Use with certain expressions.

� I'm having a party. We're having a good time. He's having fun. She's having a baby in June.

I'm having difficulty (or: problems) understanding this.

17 Have (stative, no -ing) = to own, to possess, to feel/be ill

� I have a car.

� They have plenty of* money. *许多的, 大量的, abundante, мно́го, كثير من

� She has a headache. She has a sore throat.

18 Hear with continuous

� I've been hearing a strange sound coming from the back of my car. Maybe I should take it to the

mechanic.

19 Hear (stative, no -ing)

� I hear well. I don't need a hearing aid. 助 听 器, audífono, слухово́й аппара́т

� We have a good phone connection. I hear your voice clearly.

20 Look (with continuous–often with for or at):

� When I came in, he was looking at some pictures.

� She's looking for a job.

21 Look (stative, no -ing):

� She looks beautiful in that dress. = She has a beautiful appearance* in that dress. 外表, aspecto/apariencia,

вне́шность, َمظھر � He looks like a thug. 流氓, 恶棍, 暴徒, matón, головоре́з, банди́т, س������فاح، س������فاك , ش������رس

22 See (with continuous): to have a romantic relationship with someone, to meet someone, to get together

� They are seeing each other. = They are dating./They are having a romantic relationship.

� I'm seeing Robert tomorrow. = I'm meeting Robert tomorrow.

23 See (stative, no -ing): to see with your eyes, to understand

� Where is she? Oh, I see her now. She's over there.

� I see what you mean. = I understand what you mean.

24 Taste (with continuous): to taste something (direct object)

� She doesn't know which cheese to buy, so she is tasting* several different kinds. *trying, sampling

� The chef is tasting the soup to make sure it has enough salt.

25 Taste (stative, no -ing): to have a particular taste (a good taste, a bad taste, a strange taste)

� This soup tastes great! What did you put in it?

� The milk tastes sour.

26 Think (with continuous: to consider doing, to reflect 考虑, 深思熟虑, reflexionar, размышля́ть, التفكير يعيد

� What are you thinking about?

� I'm thinking about my next vacation.

� We are thinking about moving to Los Angeles. We are considering moving to L.A.

27 Think (stative, no -ing): to have an opinion

� I think (it's my opinion) that she is a better teacher than he is.

� What do you think of the President's foreign policy? 外交政策, Política Exterior, внешняя политика, سياسة الشؤون الخارجية

28 Smell (with continuous + object):

� He is smelling the socks to see if they are too dirty to wear again.

29 Smell (stative, no -ing):

� That perfume smells so good! What is it? = That perfume has a good smell.

30 Note: Like and love are normally stative, but young people have begun using them in the

continuous. In this class, use stative (no -ing):

� She's kissing him all over, and he's loving it! = He loves it.