Stative and dynamic verbs are two types of English verbs. This lesson shows you the difference between stative and dynamic verbs. You can find tests at the bottom of the page when you are ready to practice.
Dynamic Verbs
These are for activities. They are actions we can see or hear. They can be used in all verb tenses in English. Here are some examples:
- Play, jump, talk, smile.
Stative Verbs
These are states or feelings. They can’t be seen or heard. They are never used in continuous tenses. These are some
of the common stative verbs:
| Admit | Agree | Appear | Believe |
| Belong | Care | Deny | Defend |
| Desire | Dislike | Doubt | Exist |
| Feel | Hate | Have | Hear |
| Hope | Imagine | Include | Involve |
| Know | Like | Look | Love |
| Mean | Need | Own | Prefer |
| Realize | Recognize | Remember | Resemble |
| Smell | Sound | Suppose | Taste |
| Think | Understand | Want | Wish |
So why does it matter? Because these verbs can’t be used in continuous tenses. They are never continuously happening, like you could say I am playing or She is dancing.
INCORRECT Examples:
- I am loving baseball.
- I was wanting pizza for dinner.
- I am needing ten dollars.
Some stative verbs can be used actively in special situations:
Be
- You are annoying.
- You are being annoying.
Think
- I think studying history is important.
- I am thinking about my girlfriend.
Have
- I have a dog.
- I am having a party.
- I am having a good time.
Feel
- I am not feeling well.
- I feel that the test is difficult.
Senses
Verbs of the senses can be complicated. Use these rules to understand which verbs are active and which are stative.
Ears
Listen is active and hear is stative.
- I am listening to the radio.
- I am hearing the radio. (Incorrect)
Eyes
Watch and look are active and see is stative
- I am watching television.
- I am looking at the news paper.
- I am seeing the bird. (Incorrect)
Watch is used for things that move or show actions. (Television, sports, etc.)
Look is for things that do not move.(Art, Books, etc.)
Nose
Smell can be active or stative depending on the situation.
- I am smelling (the action of smelling)
- I smell something burning.
Mouth
Taste can also be active or stative.
- I am tasting the soup. (Action)
However, it is better to say “I am trying the soup.”
- I taste salt in this soup. (State)
Stative and Dynanmic Verbs Test
Stative and Dynamic Verbs Test