How to Use Stative Verbs

Here is a quick reminder:

Dynamic = moving or changing.

Dynamic verbs are verbs that describe an action, not a state.

For example:

Take, break, eat, jump, work, find, buy, dance, fish.

Stative = having a state, or existing.

Stative verbs are verbs that describe a state, not an action.

For example:

Have, love, agree, be, want, hate, know, own, cost, sound, prefer, seem, hear.

Note that stative verbs usually describe:

- Relationships between things or people (for example, "have")

- Emotions or states of mind (for example, "love" and "agree") 

- Appearance and senses (for example, "seem" and "hear")

- Measurements (for example, "weigh")

Using stative verbs

Stative verbs are not usually used in
the progressive tenses.

Correct: I love you.

Incorrect: I'm loving you.

Correct: Do you agree?

Incorrect: Are you agreeing?

Correct: He doesn't deserve to win.

Incorrect: He isn't deserving to win.

Correct: She hated the winter.

Incorrect: She was hating the winter.

Correct: Did you hear that noise?

Incorrect: Were you hearing that noise?

Correct: The trip didn't include a visit to the beach.

Incorrect: The trip wasn't including a visit to the beach.

Correct: They will remember us.

Incorrect: They will be remembering us.

Correct: Will it surprise you?

Incorrect: Will it be surprising you?

Correct: This will probably weigh a lot.

Incorrect: This will probably be weighing a lot.

As you must know, words usually have more than a single meaning. 

Likewise, some verbs have both stative and dynamic meanings.

For example, the verb "have" is such a verb. 

It has many different meanings (you can learn about them in the English Helping Verbs Course). One of these meanings is "to own." This is a stative meaning, since it describes a state, and not an actual action.

Examples:

"I have two cats."

"You have a new laptop."

"We have too many problems."

Another meaning of the verb "have" is "to drink, eat, or smoke something."

Examples:

"They had a drink at the bar."

"We have lunch every day at noon."

"I will have a cigarette or two."

I think you can agree with me that this meaning is fully dynamic. 

Drinking, eating and smoking are definitely actions and not states.

So in such a case, "have" can be used in the progressive tenses, too.

Correct: We never have breakfast. (dynamic meaning)

Correct: We are having lunch right now. (dynamic meaning)

Correct: We have a house. (stative meaning)

Incorrect: We are having a house. (stative meaning)

Correct: Jenifer tastes wine for a living. (dynamic meaning)

Correct: Jenifer is tasting some wine right now. (dynamic meaning)

Correct: This wine tastes awful. (stative meaning)

Incorrect: This wine is tasting awful. (stative meaning)

Correct: I always think too much. (dynamic meaning)

Correct: I am thinking about your offer. (dynamic meaning)

Correct: I think you are right. (stative meaning)

Incorrect: I am thinking you are right. (stative meaning)

Here are some verbs with both dynamic and stative meanings:

Be, have, see, smell, taste, think, expect, feel.

Example sentences (stative and then dynamic):

He is (has the identity of) a boy /
He is being (behaving) naughty.

I can see (notice with eyes) you now /
I am seeing (dating) a doctor.

He can't smell (notice the smell) from birth /
Your puppy is always smelling (trying to get the smell of) me.

This cake tastes (has a taste) great /
We are just tasting (checking the taste of) the cake.

They think (have opinion) this is wrong /
They are thinking (considering) what to do.

I don't expect (think it will happen) a raise /
We were not expecting (waiting for) any guests.

She feels (has a feeling) depressed /
She is feeling (touching) the texture of the fabric.

For more info and a set of online exercises, visit Dynamic Verbs and Stative Verbs - Examples and Exercises.