STATIVE VERBS

State Verbs are verbs which describe a state rather than an action and therefore do not normally have continuous tenses. These include:

a) verbs which express likes and dislikes: like, love, dislike, hate, enjoy, prefer, adore, etc.

e.g. I love chocolate ice cream.

b) verbs of the senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel, look, sound. We often use “can” or “could” with these verbs when we refer to what we see, hear, etc. at the moment of speaking,

e.g. Jim must be at home. I can see his car parked outside.

Turn the radio down, please. I can’t hear you.

“Look”, “watch” and “listen” express deliberate actions and can be used in continuous forms.

e.g. John is watching a football game on TV. He can’t see or hear you.

c) verbs of perception: know, believe, understand, realize, remember, forget, notice, recognize, think, seem, see (=understand), expect (=think), etc.

e.g. I expect they will be late.

d) some other verbs such as be, contain, include, belong, fit, need, matter, cost, mean, own, want, owe, have (=possess), require, weigh, wish, keep (=continue), etc.

e.g. My uncle owns a hotel.

Some of the above verbs are used in continuous tenses when they describe actions and not states. Study the following examples:

STATE 1 I think he's lying. (= believe)   2 The food tastes delicious. (= has a delicious flavour) 3 I can see some people. (= perceive with my eyes) I see what you mean. (= understand) 4 It looks as if they've finished the job. (= appears) 5The perfume smells nice. (has a nice smell) 6 The baby's hair feels like silk. (= has the texture of) 7 Bob has a Porsche. (= possesses)   8 The chicken weighs 2 kilos. (= has a weight of) 9 This dress fits you perfectly. (= it is the right size) 10 He appears to be nervous. (= seems)   11 He is a rude person. (= character - permanent state)

ACTION I'm thinking about the plan. (= am considering) He is tasting the food. (= is testing the flavour of) I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow. (= am meeting) You’re just seeing things. (=imagining) Mike is looking out of the window. (is directing his eyes) He is smelling the milk. (= is sniffing) She is feeling the baby's forehead. (= is touching) He's having a shower at the moment. (= is taking a shower) The butcher is weighing the meat. (= is measuring how heavy it is) We are fitting new locks. (= are putting in)   He is appearing in a new play. (= is taking part) He is being rude. (= behaviour - temporary situation usually with adjectives such as careful, silly, (im)polite, lazy, etc.)

 

Note: a) The verbs “enjoy” and “love” can be used in continuous tenses to express specific preference.

e.g. I'm enjoying this party a lot. (specific preference)

BUT: I enjoy going to parties. (I enjoy parties in general.)

b) The verbs look (when we refer to a person's appearance), feel (= experience a particular emotion), hurt and ache can be used in either the continuous or simple tenses with no difference in meaning.

e.g. You look/are looking great today.

Ex. 18

Fill in with Present Simple or Continuous.

1. A: I 1) ……... am thinking............. (think) about visiting Jane this afternoon.

B: I wouldn’t bother. I 2) …………………(think) she’s away on holiday.

2. A: Mr Jones 3) ………………….. (have) a telephone message from his wife.

B: Can it wait? He 4) ……………… (have) a business meeting and I don’t want to disturb him.

3. A: The police 5) …………………. (still/look) for fingerprints left in the room.

B: It 6) …………….…………………(look) as if they won’t find the criminal.

4. A: I 7) ……............................. (love) breathing in clean, country air!

B: So do I. I 8) ………….…………………(love) every minute of this walking trip.

5. A: I 9) …………………………………(see) my boss about a pay rise this afternoon.

B: I 10) …………………..……………(see). That’s why you’re wearing a suit and tie.

6. A: Why 11) ………………………………(you/taste) the soup? Is there anything wrong with it?

B: Yes – it 12) ……………..…………(taste) too sweet. I think I’ve used sugar instead of salt.

7. A: Why 13) ……………………………………….. (you/feel) the baby’s forehead, Mum?

B: I think she’s got a temperature. She 14) ……………………………. (feel) rather hot.

8. A: John 15) ………………………………………… (be) a very rude person, you know.

B: I know. Sheila 16) ……….……(be) very rude these days too, although she’s usually polite.

9. A: It 17) ……………………………………….……(look) as if it’s going to rain this afternoon

B: I know. I 18) ……………………………………(look) for my umbrella to take out with me.

10. A: Why 19) …………………………………………(you/smell) the inside of your car?

B: Because it 20) ………..……………………(smell) of petrol and I want to check for leaks.

11. A: How much 21) ………………………………. …………………..(your new baby/weigh)?

B: I don’t know yet. The nurse 22) ………………………………… (weigh) him at the moment.

12. A: Why..................... (you/smell) the soap?

B: It...............................(smell) lovely. It's like roses!

13. A: Why.....................................(you/taste) the soup?

B: To see if it..............................(taste) good. I think it needs more salt.

14. A: I.....................................................(feel) very tired.

B: You should go to bed early. 15. A: I.......................................(see) Andy this evening.

B: I.................................(see). So, you don't want to come to the cinema with me, do you?

16. A: How much............................................................... (the bag of apples/weigh)?

B: I don't know yet. The man...................................... (weigh) the bag now.

17. A: I.................(think) about buying a new car soon.

B: Why? I................................(think) your car is fine. You don't need a new one.

18. A: What................................................(you/look) at?

B: The sky. It................(look) as if it's going to rain.

19. A: I really...........................(enjoy) home-made food.

B: So do I, and I............................... (enjoy) every bit of this meal.

20. A: Why...................................(you/feel) the radiator?

B: It......................................(feel) cold in here. Is the heating on?

21. A: That famous opera singer.......................(appear) at the opera house tonight.

B: Yes. He...............................(appear) to be feeling better after his operation.

22. A: Chris......................... (be) a sensible person, isn't he?

B: Yes, but in this case he...............................(be) rather foolish.

23. A: My dad................................(fit) the old blind from the living room in my bedroom today.

B: Really?.....................................(it/fit) that window?

24. A: My back........................................................(hurt).

B: Why don't you lie down for a while?

 

Ex. 19

Underline the correct item.

1. John is / is being usually rude, but today he is / is being polite to his colleagues.

2. Ann is / is being usually patient, but today she is / is being impatient.

3. Sam is / is being rude to his mother now, but he is / is being normally pleasant to her.

4. John is / is being a kind man, but at the moment he is / is being selfish.

5. Julie is /is being silly at the moment, although I know she is / is being really very sensible.

Ex. 20

Put in the correct form of be.

e.g. Daniel is doing some of the work. He's being very helpful at the moment.

I'm tired. I want to go home.

 

1 The children … very polite today. They don't usually behave so well.

2 I'm afraid Melanie can't come because she … ill.

3 Of course you can understand it. You … stupid, that's all.

4 We … interested in doing a course here.

5 Vicky … very lazy at the moment. She's done no work at all today.

Ex. 21

A)

Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Simple or Present Continuous.

Ted: Hello Dad, I am in Birmingham. It 1) …… is pouring …(pour) with rain, and I

2) …………………..(not/have got) any money.

Bob: What 3) ………………………..(you/want) me to do about it?

Ted: Could you come and pick me up?

Bob: Ted, you 4) ……………………………..(always/ask) me to do this! I 5) ………… (get)

tired of it.

Ted: Please, Dad. I am tired and hungry. My evening classes 6) …………(start) at 7.00 and I

have to be there on time. Can’t Mum come and get me?

Bob: The Smiths 7) ………………………..(visit) us tonight and she is busy in kitchen. She

8) ………………. (bake) a cake at the moment.

Ted: Please Dad. I 9) …………………… (ask) you to do this for me one last time. The success of my presentation tonight 10) …………………….. (depend) on you.

Bob: OK. I’ll be there in half an hour. But this is the last time. I 11) ……………. (mean) it!

B)

Which of the present forms in the dialogue above are to express:

1. changing or developing situations

2. states (stative verbs)

3. frequently repeated actions with “always” expressing annoyance

4. actins happening at the moment of speaking

5. timetables/programmes (future meaning)

6. fixed arrangements in the near future

 

Ex. 22.

Complete the sentences with the correct tenses (the Pr. Simple or the Pr. Progressive):

1. How do you start work on a film? I (read) the script and (make) notes. 2. I (make) notes of our interview. I hope you don’t mind. 3. What language (you speak)? English, French and Spanish. 4. I’m glad we (do) this interview in English. My French isn’t very good. 5. Who (play) that guitar? My son, when he has time. 6. Who (play) the piano upstairs? My sister. She’s got a concert tomorrow. 7. What (she play)? I think it’s a piece by Mozart. 8. (She play) anything else? The violin. She’s very musical. 9. Your daughter’s very keen on sport, isn’t she. She (play) tennis. 10. Where’s she now? She (play) tennis, as usual. 11. What’s that delicious smell? My husband (cook). 12. Is that unusual? Yes, normally I (shop) and my husband (cook). 13. What a lovely clock! It (not work), I’m afraid – it’s been broken for years. 14. Could I use your phone? I’m afraid it (not work) at the moment. 15. The climate (get) warmer. 16. I (have) a great time. 17. She (have) plenty of money just now. 18. He (appear) at the Fortune Theatre next week. 19. She (appear) to have a problem. 20. Why you (look) at me like that? 21. It (look) as if it’s going to rain. 22. I (see) what you are trying to say. 23. I (see) the manager this afternoon. 24. I (think) you’re right. 25. What you (think) about? 26. I (feel) very tired today. 27. I (feel) she’s making a mistake. 28. When Alice comes, I always (meet) her at the station. 29. I always (meet) Alan in the supermarket.

Ex. 23

Complete the conversation. Choose the correct form of the verb.

Emma: Hi, Matthew. What (e.g.) do you lo ek/are you looking at?

Matthew Oh, hi. These are photos of me when I was a child.

Emma: Oh, look at this one. (1) I think/I'm thinking you look lovely, Matthew.

Matthew: (2) I have/I'm having some more photos here.

Emma: Look at this. Why such a big coat?

Matthew: It was my brother's. That's why (3) it didn't fit/it wasn't fitting properly.

Emma: Oh, (4) I see/I'm seeing. And (5) you have/you're having your tea here. And in this one (6) you think/you're thinking about something very serious.

Matthew: This is a photo of the village (7) I come/I'm coming from.

Emma: Oh, that's nice.

Matthew: And I caught this fish, look. (8) It weighed/It was weighing about half a kilo.

Emma: What a nice little boy! And what a sentimental old thing you are now!

Ex. 24

Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous.

1. A: Michael is being (to be) very quiet today. Is anything wrong?

B: No, I don’t think so.

2. A: These towels …………… (to feel) as soft as silk.

B: I’ve just washed them.

3. A: We …………… (to think) of moving back to England.

B: Really? When?

4. A: Where’s Andrew? We can’t find him anywhere.

B: It …………… (to look) as if he’s disappeared.

5. A: What perfume are you wearing? It …………… (to smell) lovely.

B: Thanks. It’s called “Angel”.

6. A: The Trio Dance Group …………… (to appear) at the Odeon tonight.

B: Shall we go?

7. A: This skirt …………… (not to fit) me any more.

B: You must have gained some weight.

8. A: Mum, I saw a ghost last night.

B: Don’t be silly. You …………… (just/ to see) things.

9. A: What’s Dad doing?

B: He …………… (to taste) the potatoes to see if they are cooked.

10. A: The Richardsons …………… (to have) a cottage in Cornwall.

B: I know. They bought it a few years ago.

11. A: I really …………… (not to see) what the problem is.

B: No, I don’t understand it either.

12. A: This soup …………… (to taste) delicious. How did you make it?

B: Well, it’s really very simple.

13. A: What’s that noise?

B: It …………… (to sound) like Jane playing her trumpet!

14. A: Are you busy at the moment?

B: Yes. I …………… (to arrange) a very important meeting.

15. A: What time …………… (the train/to leave)?

B: At 6 o’clock.

Ex. 25

Fill in the gaps below with the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous form of the verbs in brackets.

1. My new jacket (to fit) me perfectly. 2. The Greens (to play) golf with my parents this weekend. 3. Adam (to explain) to his son how to use the new computer. 4. I (not/to feel) very well. I (to think) I’ll lie down. 5. Betty (to invite) Monica to her wedding? – I (to have) no idea. 6. Every morning when I (to wake up) I (to smell) fresh coffee coming from the kitchen. 7. Steward always (to wear) a suit and tie to the office. 8. Where’s Ed? – He (to change) the tyre on his car. 9. Karen, (you/to know) the answer to question two? – Yes, Miss. Water (to boil) at 100˚C. 10. More and more people (to develop) health problems because of air pollution.

Ex. 26

Complete the gaps using the verbs from the box. Each verb is used once as a stative verb and once as a dynamic verb: