COMMUNICATION LEVEL CL 5

TEACHER: DANIEL ROMERO

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Differences between Dynamic and Stative Verbs

You must know that all verbs in English are classified as either stative (=state) or dynamic (=action) verbs. Dynamic verbs describe actions we take, things we do, or things that happen. Stative verbs refer to the way things are their appearance, state of being, smell, etc. The most important difference between stative and dynamic verbs is that dynamic verbs can be used in continuous tenses and stative verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses (but there are some exceptions in the usage depending on the specific meaning of the verb). Consider these examples: She's studying math with Tom now. AND She studies math with Tom every Friday. They've been working since seven o'clock this morning. AND They worked for two hours yesterday afternoon. We'll be having a meeting when you arrive. AND We are going to meet next Friday.

Stative Verbs
Consider these examples and focus your attention in the verbal form of the words in bold. The flowers smell lovely. NOT Those flowers are smelling lovely. She heard him speak in Seattle yesterday afternoon. NOT She was hearing him speak in Seattle yesterday afternoon. They'll love the concert tomorrow evening. NOT They'll be loving the concert tomorrow evening.

Common Stative Verbs

There are many more dynamic verbs than stative verbs. Here is a list of some the most common stative verbs: be hate like look love need belong believe cost get impress know reach recognize taste think understand want You may notice that some of these verbs can be used as action verbs with different meanings. For example, the verb to think can either express an opinion, or the process of considering. In the first case, when think expresses an opinion it is stative. In these two examples think means opinion: I think she should work harder on her math. Michael thought Lady Gaga was a fantastic singer. Think, however, can also express the process of considering something, making a plan. In this case think is a dynamic verb. In this case these stative verbs can be used in continuous tenses (present continuous, present perfect continuous, future continuous, etc.): They're thinking about buying a new house (=Theyre planning on buying a new house.) She thought of joining a health club. (=She considered joining a health club.) Generally, stative verbs fall into four groups:

Verbs Showing Thought or Opinions know believe understand recognize Verbs Showing Possession have own belong possess Verbs Showing Senses hear smell see feel Verbs Showing Emotion love hate want need If you are unsure of whether a verb is a dynamic verb or a stative verb, ask yourself the following question: Does this verb relate some sort of process or a state? If it relates a process, then the verb is a dynamic verb. If it relates a state, the verb is a stative verb.

Dynamic verbs
These verbs are used primarily to indicate an action, process, or sensation as opposed to a state. These verbs are used in continuous tenses (present continuous, present perfect continuous, future continuous, etc.) There are three major types of dynamic verbs: 1) accomplishment verbs (expressing action that has a logical endpoint), 2) achievement verbs (expressing action that occurs

instantaneously), and 3) activity verbs (expressing action that can go on for an indefinite period of time). Some examples of dynamic verbs: eat walk learn grow sleep talk write run read become go drink type write listen speak say watch work cook Examples The other night I ate a wonderful lobster at this new restaurant by the sea. Are you cooking your special spaghetti for all of us? Ive been writing to the consumers defense association for over five weeks.

Material prepared and adapted by Daniel Romero, 2012 http://eslworld.com