Dynamic and Stative verbs

 Hi today I´m very excited to share with you what I learned today in my English class, I think this topic is very interesting and useful. 

Dynamic Verbs 

Dynamic verbs describe an action, change, or process with a beginning and an end. They are the most common type of verb and can be used in all tenses and aspects. 

When referring to an action that is or was in progress, we use dynamic verbs with a continuous tense. 

                  I am eating breakfast now. 

Here are some common verbs that refer to actions, not states, so they are dynamic and can be used in both simple and continuous tenses: 

Stative Verbs 

Stative or non-action verbs are verbs that describe a state or condition rather than an action. As a state has no real beginning or end, stative verbs are only used with simple and perfect tenses. They cannot be used with continuous tenses. 

These are some of the most common verbs that refer to states or conditions, so they are stative verbs. 

Possession and size. 

Examples: belong, own, have (meaning "possess"), possess, weigh, measure.

Ali owns three cars. ✅

Ali is owning three cars. ❌

OPINION

Examples: Know, believe, agree, think (meaning "believe" or "have an opinion"), imagine, understand.

                                                                                   

                                                                                 I know what the answer is. ✅

                                                                  I am knowing what the answer is. ❌

Likes and dislikes, feelings and emotions. 

Examples: like, love, want, need, wish, prefer, dislike. 

                                                                 Sam likes vegetables. ✅

                                                                 Sam is liking vegetables. ❌

Perception and the senses. 

Examples: sound, hear, seem, (see, appear, look, taste, smell, feel.)*

                                                                       You sound sad. ✅

                                                                       You are sounding sad. ❌

*Although they are usually used as stative verbs, these verbs can also be dynamic when they are used to describe voluntary actions, not perceptions. 

Verbs which are both stative and dynamic 

Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic. Here are some common examples. 

Have 

Have, meaning "to possess", describes a state, so it is a stative verb. 

                                                                     I have two cats. ✅

But when have does not mean "to possess", it describes an action, so it is a dynamic verb. 

                                                   They are having a party on Saturday. ✅

                                                   I was having dinner when someone knocked at the door. ✅

Be 

The verb be is normally used to describe a state, so it is a stative verb.

                                                               James is a doctor. ✅

But when be means "to act or behave", it describes an action, so it is a dynamic verb. 

                                                               He is being very kind to us. ✅

Think 

Think, meaning "to believe" or "to have an opinion", describes a state, so it is a stative verb. 

                                                                 I think it is a good idea. ✅

Think , meaning "to use your brain to reflect", is an action, so it is a dynamic verb. 

                                                               Sara is thinking about her boyfriend. ✅

Look 

Look, meaning "to appear", is a state, so it is a stative verb. 

                                                                      Tom looks like his sister. ✅

Look, meaning "to focus the eyes on something", is an action, so it is a dynamic verb.

                                                                      Peter is looking out the window. ✅

Taste, see, smell, feel 

Although they are usually classified as stative, some verbs of the senses (e.g., taste, see,  smell, feel) can also be dynamic when they refer to voluntary actions and not perceptions.

                                    This soup tastes horrible. (Perception)

                                    I am tasting the soup. (Voluntary action meaning "to put food in your mouth to see how it tastes.) 

                                                       

                                                 I saw a man looking through a window. (Not voluntary)

                                       Tom is seeing Katie this afternoon. (Voluntary action meaning "to meet or visit someone.)