Stative and dynamic verbs in English: state verbs vs action verbs

If you’ve ever said I am knowing or I’m needing a coffee, you’re not alone. Lots of languages are perfectly happy with «I’m knowing» or «I’m understanding it now», so it’s natural to assume English works the same way. But it doesn’t: English has a group of verbs, stative verbs (also called state verbs), that almost never appear in the continuous form.

Don’t worry, the idea is much simpler than it sounds. In this guide I’ll explain what stative verbs and dynamic verbs (or action verbs) are, the main rule, a full list of state verbs grouped by meaning, the verbs that can be both depending on what they mean, the exceptions you’ll hear native speakers use, and the most common mistakes. At the end, thirty sentences of exercises with answers. Let’s get started! 🙂

What are stative verbs and dynamic verbs?

English verbs can be split into two big groups according to what they express:

• Stative verbs, or state verbs: they describe a state, a situation that doesn’t change or has no clear beginning and end. They talk about what we think, feel, perceive or own: know, like, believe, own, seem.
• Dynamic verbs, or action verbs: they describe an action or a process, something that happens, starts and finishes, and that we can be in the middle of doing: run, eat, write, study, play.

Look at the difference in two examples:

• I know the answer. (Knowing the answer is a state: you aren’t «doing» it.)
• I’m reading a book. (Reading is an action that’s happening right now.)

The names can be confusing, because you’ll see both pairs in books and online. Stative verbs and state verbs are the same thing, and so are dynamic verbs and action verbs.

	Stative verbs (state verbs)	Dynamic verbs (action verbs)
What they express	States: thoughts, feelings, senses, possession	Actions and processes
Do they have a beginning and an end?	No, or not a clear one	Yes
Can they be continuous?	Not usually	Yes
Examples	know, like, own, believe, seem	run, eat, write, study, play

The main rule: stative verbs aren’t used in the continuous

This is the practical consequence of all the above, and the one that matters most: stative verbs aren’t normally used in continuous tenses (the ones with be + -ing). Even when you’re talking about something happening right now, they stay in the simple form.

• ✗ I’m knowing the answer. → ✓ I know the answer.
• ✗ She’s wanting a new phone. → ✓ She wants a new phone.
• ✗ Are you understanding me? → ✓ Do you understand me?

And careful, because the rule isn’t limited to the present: it applies to all continuous tenses. The past and the present perfect are where I see the most mistakes in class:

• Past continuous: ✗ I wasn’t knowing what to do. → ✓ I didn’t know what to do.
• Present perfect continuous: ✗ I’ve been knowing her for ten years. → ✓ I’ve known her for ten years.
• Future continuous: ✗ This time next year I’ll be owning a flat. → ✓ This time next year I’ll own a flat.

If you want to go over when to use each present form, you’ll find the full explanation in my post on the difference between the present simple and the present continuous. Stative verbs are precisely the big exception to that difference.

Stative verbs list by category

Memorising a long list on its own doesn’t get you very far. What works is grouping them by meaning, because almost all state verbs fall into one of these five families. If a verb is about what you think, feel, perceive or have, or what something is like, it’s most likely a stative verb.

Likes, feelings and wants

🇬🇧 Verb	🇪🇸 Spanish	Example
like	gustar	I like jazz.
love	encantar, querer	She loves her job.
hate	odiar	He hates getting up early.
dislike	no gustar	I dislike crowds.
prefer	preferir	We prefer tea.
want	querer	They want to leave.
wish	desear	I wish I could help.
need	necesitar	You need a passport.
mind	importar, molestar	Do you mind if I sit here?

Thoughts and opinions

🇬🇧 Verb	🇪🇸 Spanish	Example
know	saber, conocer	I know her brother.
believe	creer	I believe you.
understand	entender	Do you understand?
think (opinion)	creer, opinar	I think it’s a good idea.
remember	recordar	I remember that day.
forget	olvidar	I always forget his name.
mean	significar, querer decir	What does this word mean?
realise	darse cuenta	I realise it’s late.
suppose	suponer	I suppose you’re right.
doubt	dudar	I doubt he’ll come.
agree / disagree	estar de acuerdo / en desacuerdo	I agree with you.

The senses and perception

🇬🇧 Verb	🇪🇸 Spanish	Example
see	ver	I can see the sea from here.
hear	oír	Do you hear that noise?
smell	oler (a algo)	This room smells of paint.
taste	saber (a algo)	The soup tastes great.
sound	sonar	That sounds like a plan.
seem	parecer	She seems happy.
look (appearance)	parecer, tener aspecto	You look tired.
appear (appearance)	parecer	He appears to be lost.

Possession and belonging

🇬🇧 Verb	🇪🇸 Spanish	Example
have (possession)	tener	They have two cats.
own	ser dueño de	My uncle owns a restaurant.
belong (to)	pertenecer	This bag belongs to Ana.
possess	poseer	He possesses great talent.
include	incluir	The price includes breakfast.
contain	contener	This drink contains sugar.

What something is like: qualities and measurements

🇬🇧 Verb	🇪🇸 Spanish	Example
be	ser, estar	She is very patient.
cost	costar	It costs 20 euros.
weigh (weight)	pesar	The suitcase weighs 23 kilos.
depend (on)	depender (de)	It depends on the weather.
matter	importar	It doesn’t matter.
deserve	merecer	You deserve a break.
fit	quedar bien (de talla)	These jeans don’t fit me.
resemble	parecerse a	He resembles his father.

Verbs that can be stative or dynamic

This is the interesting part, and the one almost no list explains properly. Some verbs have two meanings: a state meaning and an action meaning. With the state meaning they aren’t used in the continuous; with the action meaning, they are. That’s why learning which verbs are stative isn’t enough: you have to look at what they mean in each sentence.

Think

• State (opinion): I think you’re right. (That’s my opinion.)
• Action (thinking about, considering): I’m thinking about changing jobs. (I’m turning it over in my mind.)

Have

• State (possession, relationships, features): She has two brothers. / He has blue eyes.
• Action (eating, drinking, experiences): We’re having lunch. / They’re having a great time. / She’s having a shower.

See

• State (see, understand): I see what you mean.
• Action (meeting someone, dating someone, having an appointment): I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow. / Is she seeing anyone?

Taste and smell

• State (having a flavour or a smell): This soup tastes delicious. / The kitchen smells of coffee.
• Action (tasting or smelling on purpose): The chef is tasting the sauce. / Why are you smelling the milk?

Look and appear

• State (seem, have an appearance): You look tired. / He appears to be lost.
• Action (looking at something; appearing or performing in public): I’m looking at the photos. / She’s appearing in a new play.

Be

• State (what someone is like): He is rude. (He always is; it’s his personality.)
• Action (how someone is behaving now): He’s being rude. (He isn’t usually like this, but today he’s behaving badly.)

Weigh and measure

• State (having a weight or a size): The baby weighs four kilos.
• Action (weighing or measuring something): The nurse is weighing the baby.

Verb	State meaning (simple form)	Action meaning (continuous possible)
think	opinion: I think it’s true.	considering: I’m thinking about it.
have	possession: I have a car.	eating, experiencing: I’m having breakfast.
see	see, understand: I see.	meeting someone: I’m seeing Tom later.
taste / smell	having a flavour or smell: It tastes good.	tasting or smelling: She’s tasting the wine.
look	seem: You look happy.	look at: I’m looking at you.
be	personality: He’s silly.	behaviour: He’s being silly.
weigh	weight: It weighs a kilo.	action: I’m weighing the flour.

Exceptions: when native speakers «break» the rule

If you watch series or listen to native speakers, you’ll soon come across sentences that seem to contradict everything above. It isn’t that the rule is wrong: there are specific uses, especially in spoken English, where a state verb appears in the continuous with a particular nuance.

• To express enthusiasm or something temporary: I’m loving this weather! or the famous I’m lovin’ it. It shows you’re enjoying something right now, and it’s very informal. In an exam, go for I love or I’m really enjoying.
• To talk about a change in progress: I’m liking my new job more and more. The continuous highlights that the feeling is growing.
• To sound softer or more polite: I’m hoping to finish by Friday. / I was wondering if you could help me. The continuous makes the request or plan less direct.
• With feel and look when talking about how someone is: I feel tired and I’m feeling tired mean practically the same, just like You look great and You’re looking great. Both forms are correct.

My advice: know these exceptions so you understand them when you hear them, but in an exam, stick to the general rule. Using the simple form with a state verb will never be a mistake.

Common mistakes with stative verbs

These are the mistakes I correct most often in class:

• ✗ I’m having a new car. → ✓ I have a new car. (Possession: simple form.)
• ✗ I’m not understanding this exercise. → ✓ I don’t understand this exercise.
• ✗ The man in the photo is having a beard. → ✓ The man in the photo has a beard. (Very common when describing photos.)
• ✗ This coffee is smelling wonderful. → ✓ This coffee smells wonderful.
• ✗ I’ve been knowing him since school. → ✓ I’ve known him since school.
• ✗ Are you believing me? → ✓ Do you believe me?

Stative verbs in Cambridge exams

State verbs aren’t tested as a topic of their own, but they turn up everywhere, and a mistake with them really stands out.

• Speaking: in the parts where you describe photos (for example, Part 2 of B1 Preliminary and B2 First), it’s easy to slip into The woman is having long hair or They are seeming happy. The correct forms are She has long hair and They seem happy, or They look as if they’re enjoying themselves.
• Writing: in an email or an article you’ll constantly write I think, I believe, I prefer or I agree. Putting them in the continuous is an accuracy mistake the examiner spots straight away.
• Use of English (B2 and C1): transformations and gaps often feature verbs like belong, own, depend or matter, and knowing they take the simple form helps you choose the right auxiliary (do or does, not is).

Summary table

	Stative verbs (state verbs)	Dynamic verbs (action verbs)
They express	Thoughts, feelings, senses, possession, qualities	Actions and processes
Continuous form	Not usually: I know, not I’m knowing	Yes: I’m working
Present perfect	I’ve known her for years.	I’ve been working all day.
Verbs with two meanings	I think so. / I have a car.	I’m thinking about it. / I’m having lunch.
Common exceptions	I’m loving it (informal), I’m hoping… (polite), I feel = I’m feeling

Frequently asked questions

What are stative verbs?

They’re verbs that express a state (what we think, feel, perceive or have) rather than an action. They’re also called state verbs, and they aren’t normally used in the continuous form.

Is a state verb the same as a stative verb?

Yes, they’re two names for the same thing. The same goes for dynamic verbs and action verbs.

Can you say «I’m loving it»?

Yes, but it’s informal. It’s used to express enthusiasm about something you’re experiencing right now. In an exam or a formal text, go for I love it or I’m really enjoying it.

Can «think» be used in the present continuous?

Only when it means «think about» or «consider»: I’m thinking about moving abroad. When it expresses an opinion, it’s always in the simple form: I think it’s a good idea.

Can stative verbs be used in the past continuous?

Not normally. The rule applies to all continuous tenses: I didn’t know, not I wasn’t knowing; I’ve known her for years, not I’ve been knowing her.

How do I know whether a verb is stative or dynamic?

Ask yourself whether it’s something you can be in the middle of «doing» at a specific moment. If it’s about what you think, feel, perceive or have, or what something is like, it’s probably a state verb. And if the verb has two meanings (like have or think), check which one it has in that sentence.

Stative and dynamic verbs exercises

Thirty sentences to check you’ve got it. The answers are under each exercise.

Exercise 1: present simple or present continuous?

Choose the correct option in each sentence.

Exercise 2: state or action?

Complete the sentences with the present simple or the present continuous of the verbs in brackets. Think about what the verb means in each sentence.

Exercise 3: right or wrong?

Decide whether each sentence is correct. If it’s wrong, correct it.

Conclusion

To sum up in three ideas: stative verbs express states and aren’t used in the continuous, in any tense; some verbs, like have, think or see, have a state meaning and an action meaning, and only the action meaning allows the continuous; and the exceptions exist, but they’re informal, so in an exam the general rule is your best friend.

If you want to keep going with this topic, the natural next step is the difference between the present simple and the present continuous, and if you need to go over the basics, check out my guide to the present simple.

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See you in the next post. Until then, don’t forget to keep smiling! 🙂