Stative Verbs

Some English verbs, which we call state, non-continuous or stative verbs, aren't used in continuous tenses. These verbs often describe states that last for some time. Here is a list of some common ones:

Stative (or State) Verb List

like love hate dislike prefer want need  wish

sound taste smell hear see

know realize understand recognize  remember

disagree agree believe deny

belong  possess    have  own

astonish suppose surprise satisfy mind mean doubt think (=have an opinion) feel (=have an opinion)  depend  matter deserve involve promise concern  please  impress

lack include contain consist fit measure (=have length etc) owe weigh (=have weight)

seem appear look (=seem)

be

A verb which isn't stative is called a dynamic verb, and is usually an action.

Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic:

Be

be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous it means 'behaving' or 'acting'

you are stupid = it's part of your personality

you are being stupid = only now, not usually

Think

think (stative) = have an opinion

I think that coffee is great

think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head

what are you thinking about? I'm thinking about my next holiday

Have

have (stative) = own

I have a car

have (dynamic) = part of an expression

I'm having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break

See

see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand

I see what you mean

I see her now, she's just coming along the road

see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with

I've been seeing my boyfriend for three years

I'm seeing Robert tomorrow

Taste

taste (stative) = has a certain taste

This soup tastes great

The coffee tastes really bitter

taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting

The chef is tasting the soup

('taste' is the same as other similar verbs such as 'smell')