GRAMMAR: Verbs with Stative Meanings (1)

Some English verbs describe states that cannot be described using the progressive verb
tenses. These verbs are said to have stative meanings and are often called stative verbs. It is
important to be aware, however, that there are some verbs with stative meanings that can be
used in the progressive verb tenses because they also have non-stative meanings or uses.
COMMON STATIVE VERBS
The verbs in the list below usually have stative meanings and are almost never
used in the progressive verb tenses.
agree desire know realize
amaze disagree like recognize
appreciate dislike love remember
astonish doubt matter resemble
believe envy need seem
belong equal owe sound
concern exist own suppose
consist fear please surprise
contain hate possess understand
depend hear prefer want

COMMON VERBS WITH BOTH STATIVE AND NON-STATIVE MEANINGS OR USES

BE and HAVE
The verbs BE and HAVE almost always have stative meanings. Nevertheless, they
do have some common non-stative uses.
The verb BE is always stative when it refers to existing states:
David is a family physician.
It was cold in the fall that year.
However, sometimes the construction BE + an adjective is used in the present
progressive and the past progressive tenses to describe temporary ongoing behaviour:
He is just being polite.
Pierre was being very careful.
In addition, the verb BE can be used in the present progressive and in the past
progressive in passive voice constructions:
Cathy is being treated for cancer.
They were being followed by a detective.
The verb HAVE is always stative when it expressions possession:
Mary has a new car.
Bill’s grandfather had an enormous house in London.
However, the verb HAVE can be used in the progressive tenses when it means eat or drink:
While we were having lunch, the phone rang.
He is having a beer with his friend George.
In addition, the verb HAVE can be used in the progressive tenses in expressions like
have a good time, have fun, have a hard time, and have difficulty:
Are you having a good time?
She was having difficulty making ends meet.
GRAMMAR: Verbs with Stative Meanings (2)
COMMON VERBS WITH BOTH STATIVE AND NON-STATIVE MEANINGS OR USES
SMELL, TASTE, WEIGH, and FEEL
When the verbs SMELL, TASTE, WEIGH, and FEEL are used intransitively to
describe something, they almost always have stative meanings. When they are used
transitively to describe actions performed to ascertain the state of something, they have
non-stative meanings and can be used in the progressive verb tenses. Note, however,
that the verb FEEL has more than one stative and non-stative meaning and use.
The verb SMELL always has a stative meaning when it is used intransitively:
The bouquet of roses smells lovely.
That man on the subway smelled like a brewery.
The verb SMELL can be used transitively in the progressive tenses:
Mother is smelling the roses that we gave her.
The dog was smelling the telephone pole.
The verb TASTE always has a stative meaning when it is used intransitively:
This cheese tastes awful.
The spaghetti sauce tasted too salty.
The verb TASTE can be used transitively in the progressive tenses:
While Sue was tasting the wine, the waiter smiled.
George is tasting the soup.
The verb WEIGH is always stative when it is used intransitively:
Peter weighs about 180 lbs.
His laptop computer weighed very little.
The verb WEIGH can be used transitively in the progressive tenses:
The butcher is weighing the steak on his scale.
The witness is weighing his words very carefully.

The verb FEEL always has a stative meaning when it is used intransitively with a non-
human subject:
This material feels very soft.
After the operation, his arm felt sore for several weeks.
However, the verb FEEL can be used intransitively in the progressive tenses with a
human subject:
Sheila is feeling sick today.
He has been feeling depressed for weeks.
The verb FEEL can be used transitively in the progressive tenses:
She is feeling the sleeve of the jacket to see if it is made of wool.
The little girl was feeling the kitten’s fur
Finally, the verb FEEL always has a stative meaning when it is used as a synonym
of the verb think or the verb believe:
I feel that the department is spending too much money.
Susan feels that we have not given enough attention to this issue.
GRAMMAR: Verbs with Stative Meanings (3)
COMMON VERBS WITH BOTH STATIVE AND NON-STATIVE MEANINGS OR USES
SEE
Unlike the verbs SMELL, TASTE, WEIGH, and FEEL, the verb SEE cannot be used
in the progressive verb tenses to describe the action of ascertaining the state of
something. As a verb of perception, it is always stative. Nevertheless, it does have two
very common non-stative meanings that are not specifically related to visual
perception, and it can be used in the progressive verb tenses with these meanings.
The verb SEE always has a stative meaning when it is used to describe or express
visual perception:
When she sees the stain on the carpet, she will be angry.
I looked out the window and saw a sailboat on the lake.
However, the verb SEE can be used in the progressive tenses when it means meet
with someone:
Doctor Smith is seeing a patient and cannot come to the phone.
I will be seeing her tomorrow morning.
The verb SEE can also be used in the progressive verb tenses when it means date
someone:
Susan is seeing George now.
They have been seeing each other for over a month.

COMMON VERBS WITH BOTH STATIVE AND NON-STATIVE MEANINGS OR USES

APPEAR and LOOK
The verbs APPEAR and LOOK always have a stative meaning when they are
used to describe how someone or something seems to be. However, both verbs
can have a non-stative meaning that has nothing to do with seeming to be, and
they can be used in the progressive verb tenses with this meaning.
The verb APPEAR is always stative when it means seem:
The teacher appears ill.
It appears that we were wrong.
The verb APPEAR can be used in the progressive tenses when it means
participate in a public performance or show:
His sister will be appearing in a play on Broadway.
My favourite actor is appearing in a new movie.
The verb LOOK is always stative when it is used intransitively to mean appear or
seem:
It looks cold outside.
His sister looked beautiful when I saw her at the dance.
The verb LOOK is often used in the progressive tenses as the root verb in a
phrasal verb:
I am looking for my keys. Have you seen them?
She has been looking out the window for hours.
GRAMMAR: Verbs with Stative Meanings (4)
COMMON VERBS WITH BOTH STATIVE AND NON-STATIVE MEANINGS OR USES
MEAN and THINK
Like most verbs that describe mental or intellectual states (verbs such as
BELIEVE, KNOW, and UNDERSTAND), the verbs MEAN and THINK are almost
always stative. However, unlike most other verbs that describe mental or
intellectual states, the verbs MEAN and THINK have non-stative meanings, and
they can be used in the progressive verb tenses with these meanings.
The verb MEAN is always stative when it is a synonym for signify or imply:
The word "horloge" means "clock" in French.
What do you mean by that?
However, the verb MEAN is sometimes used in the progressive tenses to describe
unrealized intentions:
I have been meaning to call you for weeks.
They were meaning to paint the bathroom, but they did not
have enough time.
The verb THINK is always stative when it is used to introduce an opinion or a
prediction:
He thinks that the Montreal Canadians will win tonight.
I think that it will rain tomorrow.
However, the verb THINK can be used in the progressive tenses to describe the
act of thinking about something:
He is thinking about the meeting at noon.
She had been thinking about the problem all day.