Stative or state verbs describe a state rather than an action and do not normally have continuous
tenses.
1) Verbs which express likes or dislikes; like
,love , dislike , hate , enjoy* , prefer , adore ,
detest , etc..
I love ice cream.
She really enjoys cooking for her friends.
2) Verbs of the senses; see, hear, smell*, taste*,
feel* , look*, sound* , etc.. We often use can or
could with these verbs when we refer to what
we see hear, etc. at the moment of speaking.
Jim must be at home. I can see his car parked outside.
John must be in the attic. I can hear his footsteps,
The soup tastes delicious.
3)Verbs of perception; believe , know ,notice ,
remember , forget , recognize , understand
,realize , seem, think*, see* (=understand ) ,
expect ( = think) , agree , consider , doubt
suppose , feel* (=think)
I don't believe a word he's saying.
I expect they will be late.
4)Some other verbs; be*, contain, include,
belong, fit , need, matter, cost, mean, own, want,
owe, wish, have* (=possess) , weigh *, keep
(=continue), require, concern, appear* /seem,
etc..
My uncle owns a hotel.
This book is mine. It belongs to me.
Some of the verbs above (*) are used in
continuous tense when they describe actions not
states although there is a difference in meaning
She is very polite. (character- permanent state )
He is being very nice. (behavior-temporary situation)
Peter is a difficult person to get on with.
Jane is being particularly generous this week.
Peter thinks he knows everything.(He believes)
He is thinking of studying Medicine.(He's considering)
I think she's Italian.
I'm thinking about my holiday.
I see what you mean.( I understand)
She is seeing a dentist tonight.(She's meeting)
I can see a plane in the sky.( perceive with my eyes)/
Are you seeing your brother tomorrow?
He has a sports car.( possess)
He is having lunch now.( eating )
Since you have his phone number, you can call him.
We were having a good time at the party before fire.
A baby's skin feels very smooth.( smooth texture)
Mum is feeling his forehead.( she is touching)
This scarf feels like silk.
He is feeling the engine to see how hot it is.
This soup tastes of garlic.(has taste of garlic)
She is tasting the soup.( testing the flavor of)
The food tastes delicious.
She is tasting the sauce to see if it's OK.
This perfume smells nice.( has a nice smell )
She is smelling the roses.( she is sniffing )
This room smells of perfume.
Why are you smelling that meat?
Susan looks tired.( appears )
He is looking out of the window.( directing his eyes)
He looks as if he is going to faint.
The mechanic is looking at my car.
The patient appears to be recovering(He seems to
be)
He is appearing on the stage next week (giving a
concert)
She appears to be very upset.
He is appearing in a new play.
Sam now weighs more than his father.(His weight is
more)
The doctor is weighing the baby.(measuring)
The chicken weighs 2 kilos.
The butcher is weighing the meat.
This dress fits you perfectly.( It is the right size)
We are fitting a new kitchen next week.( installing)
My uniform doesn't fit me. We are fitting new locks.
NOTE:
a) The verb enjoy / love can be used in
continuous tenses to express specific preference,
in present tense to express general preference.
She is enjoying / loving every minute of her holiday.
( = she likes specifically)
Most people enjoy / love eating out. (=They like in
general)
b)The verbs look ( when we refer tosomebody's
appearance) , feel (= experience a particular
emotion) ,hurt and ache can be used in the
continuous or simple tense with no difference in
meaning.
You look fabulous today. = You are looking fabulous
today.
She feels sick. = She is feeling sick.
STATIVE OR STATE VERBS
PRACTICE

1) Why -------------------------------- ( you/smell) the soap?- It ---------------------------- ( smell) lovely. It is like roses.
2) Why ----------------- ( you/taste ) the soup ? To see if it --------------- ( taste ) good. I think it needs more salt.
3) I -------------------------------------- ( feel) very tired. -You should go to bed early.
4) I ------------------------------ ( see ) Andy this evening. - I ---------------------------- (see). So you don't want to come
to the cinema with me, do you?
5) How much ------------------------------- (it/ weigh ) ? - I don't know yet. The man ---------------------- ( weigh)
the bag now.
6) I ----------------- (think) about buying a new car soon. -Why? I ------------------ (think) your car is fine. You don't need
a new one.
7) What ------------------------- (you/ look) at ? - The sky. It --------------------------- ( look) as if it is going to rain.
8) I really ---------------------- ( enjoy) home-made food. -So do I, and I -------------------- ( enjoy) every bit of this meal.
9) Why --------------------------------- ( you/feel ) the radiator? - It ---------------------- ( feel ) cold in here. Is the
heating on?
10) ----------------------------------------------------(Mary / know) my brother Tom? No she doesnt.
11) Chris --------------------------------- ( be ) a sensible person. - Yes, but in this case he -------------------------- ( be )
rather foolish.
12) My dad --------------- ( fit ) the old blind from the living room in my bedroom today. -Really? --------------------- (it/ fit )
that window?
13) My back ------------------------------------- ( hurt ). -Why don't you lie down for a while?
14 ) Michael -------------------------------- ( be ) very quiet today. Is anything wrong ? - No, I don't think so.
15) Whats that noise? The people next door -----------------------------------(have) a party.
16) We -------------------------------------------- (think) of moving back to England. Really? When ?
17) Where's Andrew ? We can't find him anywhere. - It --------------------------------- ( look) as if he's disappeared.
18) What perfume are you wearing ? It ------------------------------------- ( smell ) lovely. - Thanks. It is called " Angel ".
19) The skirt ------------------------------------ ( not fit) me anymore. - You must have gained some weight.
20) I really ---------------------------------------- ( not / see ) what the problem is . - No, I don't understand it either.
21) This soup --------------------------------------- ( taste ) delicious. How did you make it? - Well, it's really very simple.
22) What's that noise ? - It --------------------------------------- ( sound ) like Jane playing her trumpet.
23) My new jacket ----------------------------------- ( fit ) me perfectly.
24) The Greens ------------------------------------- ( play ) golf with my parents this weekend.
25) I --------------------------------(think) She is Italian - I -------------------------- ( have) no idea.
26) Where's Ed ? -He ------------------------------------------- (change) the tire on his car.
27) They --------------------------------------(want) something to drink now.
28) Could you give me a lift tomorrow morning? -I'm sorry but I always ------------------ (use) public transport to get to work.
29) I ----------------------- ( see ) an old friend tonight. - I ------------------ (see). So you won't be able to meet me after work.
30) What are you doing? I ----------------------------------------(measure) this old table
31) Why ------------------- (John /be ) so bad tempered today? I don't know. He -------- ( be ) usually so easy to get on with.
32) Carol and I ------------------------------- ( think) of getting married. ------------------------------- ( you/think) that's a good
idea? You haven't known each other for very long.
33) ---------------------------------- (you/have) the phone number of a good business consultant? -Why ? -------..--------
--------------( you/have ) problems at work.
34) A: --------------------- (you/join) any more clubs at school this year ?
B: I ------------------- ( not think ) so. I ---------------- ( belong ) to three clubs already.
35) How much ------------------------------(those trainers / cost ) ? They are too expensive.
36) I hear the Fords ----------------- ( look) for a bigger house. Yes, it ------------- ( look) as if they are going to move.
37 ) How much ------------------------- (the parcel /weigh)? I'm not sure. The assistant ------------------------ (weigh) it now.
38) Toms brother --------------------------------------------(owe) me a lot of money.
39) A: What time ------------------------------- (you/have) breakfast tomorrow?
B:At eight o'clock, because we ------------------------------(leave) for the airport at nine.
40) I ----------------------------------------(not understand) that question.
41) I -------------------------------------- ( think) I'll buy the black dress, not the red one.
42) She ------------------------------------- (think) of going to study abroad.
43 ) Susan --------------------------------------- ( have) dinner with her cousin Helen tonight.
44) -----------------------------------------(you / hear) that noise? No, Im a bit deaf.
KEY
-1)A: Why are you smelling(you/ smell) the soap? B:It smells( smell) lovely. It is like roses.
2)A:Why are you tasting ( you/taste ) the soup ? B:To see if it tastes ( taste ) good. I think it needs more salt.
3)A:I feel/ am feeling( feel) very tired. B:You should go to bed early.
4)A:I am seeing ( see ) Andy this evening. B: I see (see). So you don't want to come to the cinema with me, do you?
5)A:How much does it weigh ( it/weigh ) ? B: I don't know yet. The man is weighing ( weigh ) the bag now.
6)A:I am thinking (think) about buying a new car soon. B:Why? I think (think)your car is fine. You dont need a new one.
7)A:What are you looking (you/ look) at ? B: The sky. It looks ( look) as if it is going to rain.
8)A:I really enjoy( enjoy) home-made food. B:So do I, and I am enjoying ( enjoy) every bit of this meal.
9)A:Why are you feeling ( you/feel ) the radiator? B: It feels ( feel ) cold in here. Is the heating on?
10)A:That famous opera singer is appearing ( appear ) at the opera house tonight. B: Yes. He appears (appear) to be feeling
better after his operation.
11)A:Chris is (be) a sensible person. B: Yes, but in this case he is being ( be ) rather foolish.
12)A:My dad is fitting (fit) the old blind from the living room in my bedroom today. B:Really? Does it fit (it/fit) that window?
13)A:My back hurts / is hurting ( hurt ). B:Why don't you lie down for a while?
14)A:Michael is being ( be ) very quiet today. Is anything wrong ? B: No, I don't think so.
15)A:These towels feel ( feel ) as soft as silk. B: I have just washed them.
16)A:We are thinking (think) of moving back to England. B: Really? When ?
17)A:Where's Andrew ? We can't find him anywhere. B: It looks ( look) as if he's disappeared.
18)A:What perfume are you wearing ? It smells ( smell ) lovely. B: Thanks. It is called " Angel ".
19)A:The skirt doesn't fit ( not fit) me anymore. B: You must have gained some weight.
20)A:I really don't see ( not / see ) what the problem is . B: No, I don't understand it either.
21)A:This soup tastes ( taste ) delicious. How did you make it? B: Well, it's really very simple.
22)A:What's that noise ? B: It sounds ( sound ) like Jane playing her trumpet.
23)My new jacket fits ( fit ) me perfectly.
24)The Greens are playing ( play ) golf with my parents this weekend.
25)A:Is Betty inviting ( invite) Monica to her wedding ? B: I have ( have) no idea.
26)Where's Ed ? -He is changing (change) the tire on his car.
27)More and more people are developing ( develop) health problems because of air pollution.
28)A:Could you give me a lift tomorrow morning? B:I'm sorry but I always use (use) public transport to get to work.
29)A:I am seeing ( see ) an old friend tonight. B: I see ( see ). So you won't be able to meet me after work.
30)A:Why are you smelling (you/ smell) the milk ? B:It smells ( smell ) a bit strange. I think it might have gone off.
31)A:Why is John being (John/be ) so bad tempered today? B:I don't know. He is (be) usually so easy to get on with.
32)A:Carol and I are thinking ( think) of getting married. B:Do you think (you/ think) that's a good idea? You haven't known
each other for very long.
33)A:Do you have (you/have) the phone number of a good business consultant?
B:Why ? Are you having ( you/have ) problems at work.
34)A:Is the singer appearing ( the singer/appear)tonight? B:Unfortunately not. She appears (appear) to have lost her
voice.
35)A:Why are you tasting (you/taste ) the baby's drink? B:It tastes (taste) a little bitter. I think I'll add some more sugar.
36)A:I hear the Fords are looking ( look) for a bigger house. B:Yes, it looks (look) as if they are going to move.
37)A:How much does the parcel weigh (the parcel/weigh)? B:I'm not sure. The assistant is weighing (weigh) it now.
38)A:Why are you tasting ( you/taste ) the soup ? B:Well, it smells ( smell ) strange and I want ( want ) to find out if there's
something wrong with it.
39)A:What time are you having (you/have) breakfast tomorrow? B:At eight o'clock, because we are leaving (leave ) for the
airport at nine.
40)Mother is tasting (taste ) the sauce to see if it needs more salt.
41)I think (think) I'll buy the black dress, not the red one.
42)She is thinking (think) of going to study abroad.
43)Susan is having ( have) dinner with her cousin Helen tonight.
44)After a short walk through the park, he always feels ( feel ) relaxed and cheerful.
45)I am feeling ( feel ) in my pocket for my keys.
46)Tom is seeing ( see) the company director in a few minutes.
47)When I open my bedroom window every morning, I see ( see) the tall cypress tree in the garden.
48) A: Are you joining (you/join) any more clubs at school this year ?
B: I don't think (not think) so. I belong (belong ) to three clubs already.