Dynamic & Stative Verbs

Dynamic &  Stative Verbs

Dynamic Verb - 

A 'Dynamic verb' is the verb that describes an action rather than a state. These verbs express physical activities or process.

'Dynamic verbs' are also known as action verbs, progressive verbs & continuous verbs. 

Some dynamic verbs are :
Eat, walk, learn, grow, sleep, talk, write, run, read, go etc.
( These verbs express physical activities. We can start these actions any time. we can stop these actions any time. So these verbs are dynamic verbs. )

Dynamic verbs can be used in any tense:

They play cricket.                                                         (simple present)

They are playing cricket.                                            (Present Continuous) 

They have played cricket.                                           (Present Perfect)

They have been playing cricket for an hour.
                                                                                          (Present Perfect Continuous)
(The verb 'play'  is expressing an action, a physical activity. So it is a dynamic verb. &  it can be used in any tense.)

I read a newspaper.                                                            (Present Indefinite)

I am reading a newspaper.                                               (Present Continuous) 

I have read a newspaper.                                                  (Present Perfect)  

I have been reading a  newspaper for half an hour.    (Present Perfect Continuous)  

(Here the verb read is expressing an action. So it is a dynamic verb. & we can use it in any tense.)

         

Stative Verb - 

A 'stative verb'  is the verb that describes a state or condition rather than an action.
'Stative verbs' are known as state verbs or non -  progressive verbs. 
Stative verbs can not be used in progressive form (means we can't use ing with these verbs.) 
  
Some stative verbs are :
Love, hate, like, doubt, prefer, know, seem, agree, own, understand etc.

Stative verbs describe an emotion, possession, sensation,  perception & mental states.

Possession  -
The verbs that show possession are :
Have, own, belong, possess, include, owe, consist etc.

Senses -
Some verbs are related to our senses. These verbs are :
Hear, smell, feel, sound, look, touch, see etc.

Emotions -
Some verb are used to describe emotions, these verbs are :
Appreciate, love, hate, like /dislike, hope, need, desire, wish, prefer, mind, want etc.

Mental states / qualities -
Some verbs describe our mental states. These verbs are :
Know, believe, understand, doubt, suppose, recognize, forget, remember, agree/disagree, deny, promise,  realise, appear,  measure, cost,  depend, deserve, involve,  imagine, mean, satisfy, astonish, Contain, consist, exist, surprise etc.

Now let's form some sentences using stative verbs :

1) I am liking chocolate.  ✗   
     I like chocolate.   ✓              

     (This verb 'like' belong to our emotions. So it is a stative verb &  we can't use it in progressive tense.)

2) You are not understanding me.  ✗
    You don't understand me.  ✓    
   
(This verb is not describing any action. This verb belongs to our mental state. So it is a stative verb &  we can't use it in progressive tense.)

  3) This perfume is smelling like rose. ✗ 

       This perfume smells like rose.  ✓ 

(The verb 'smell' belongs to our senses. This verb is not describing any action. So it is a stative verb. &  it can't be used in progressive tense.)

4) This house is belonging to him.  ✗     

     This house belongs to him.  ✓

  ( Here the verb 'belong' is not showing any action, it is showing possession. So it is a stative verb &  we can't use it in progressive tense. ) 

5) This book is containing 100 stories.  ✗

    This book contains 100 stories. ✓  

(Here the word 'contain' is not showing any action, it is showing state. So it is a stative verb &  we can't use it in progressive tense.)

6) I am knowing this man.  ✗  

     I know this man.   ✓             

(Here the verb 'know'  belongs to our mental states. So it is a stative verb &  we can't use it in progressive tense.) 

7) I am agreeing with you. ✗             

     I agree with you.   ✓           

(Here the verb 'agree'  belongs to our mental states. So it is a stative verb &  we can't use it in progressive tense.)

8) I am having a car.  ✗
     I have a car.   ✓ 
(Here the verb 'have'  is used to show possession. So it is a stative verb &  we can't use it in progressive tense.)

Some verbs can be either dynamic or stative depending on their meaning and context in the sentence. These verbs are -

Think, mind, have, smell, sound, feel, measure, taste, look, see etc.

  I think you are wrong.   ✓    (Stative verb)  

  I am thinking you are wrong.  ✗ 

(In the sentence 'think' means to have an opinion, so it is a stative verb because it is describing a state not an action. in this case it  can not be used in progressive form. We can't say, "I am thinking you are wrong."

I am thinking about buying a new car.   ✓                                                      (Dynamic verb)

In this sentence the verb 'thinking'  is describing a process or an action so it is a dynamic verb & in this case  it can be used  in progressive form.

2) I have two brothers.   ✓       (Stative verb)

    I am having two brothers.  ✗

(In this sentence the verb 'have'  is not describing an action or process. It is used to tell about family relationship. So it is a stative verb and in this case we can not use it in progressive form.
We can't say "I am having two brothers." 

I am having breakfast.    (Dynamic)
(Here the verb having describing an action not a state so it is a dynamic verb. &  it can use it in progressive tense.