States and actions
Some verbs describe a state — a situation, a feeling, a thought or an opinion. These are stative verbs, and we do not usually use them in progressive tenses.
Other verbs describe an action — something someone does. These are dynamic verbs, and they can be simple or progressive depending on the meaning.
Stative verb → use the simple form, even for right now
Dynamic verb → use the simple or the progressive form
I don't understand this. → a state, so no progressive form.
She wants to leave now. → a state, even though it is happening now.
He runs every day. → a repeated action.
We're playing a video game. → an action in progress now.
Three groups
| Stative verbs | Dynamic verbs | Stative or dynamic |
|---|
| Juan likes climbing. | He runs every day. | I think she's amazing. |
| I don't understand. | Don't laugh at me. | She's thinking about her work. |
| She wants to leave now. | We're playing a video game. | This pasta tastes delicious. |
| I don't know how to play this. | They are using new technology. | She's tasting the soup. |
Families of stative verbs
| Group | Verbs |
|---|
| Thoughts and opinions | know, believe, understand, remember, agree, mean |
| Feelings and wants | like, love, hate, want, need, prefer |
| The senses | see, hear, smell, taste, feel, sound |
| Having and owning | have, own, belong, contain, include |
| Being and appearing | be, seem, appear, look, resemble |
| Measurements | cost, weigh, measure, fit, matter |
When a verb crosses over
A few verbs can be stative or dynamic. The simple form describes the state; the progressive form describes a deliberate action happening now. The meaning of the verb changes.
think — I think she's amazing. (my opinion) / She's thinking about her work. (in her head now)
have — They have a beach house. (they own it) / We're having lunch. (we're eating now)
taste — This pasta tastes delicious. (its flavor) / She's tasting the soup. (trying it on purpose)
see — I see the problem. (I understand) / I'm seeing the dentist at four. (meeting her)
be — He is very polite. (his personality) / He's being polite today. (behaving that way now)
smell — The bread smells good. (its smell) / He's smelling the milk. (using his nose on purpose)
Common mistakes
⚠ Watch out:
✗ I am wanting a coffee. → ✓ I want a coffee. (want is a state)
✗ She is knowing the answer. → ✓ She knows the answer. (know is a state)
✗ This bag is belonging to Marco. → ✓ This bag belongs to Marco. (belong is a state)
✗ I am not agreeing with you. → ✓ I don't agree with you. (agree is a state)
✗ Listen! The neighbors argue again. → ✓ Listen! The neighbors are arguing again. (an action in progress)