Not all verbs show actions you can see or do. Some verbs describe a state, feeling, relationship, or condition—something that isn’t active but still matters in communication. These are called stative verbs. For example, in She knows the answer, the verb knows describes a mental state, not an action.
Stative verbs are different from action verbs because they don’t usually appear in continuous (–ing) forms, and they don’t show a change or movement. Understanding how they work can help you avoid common grammar mistakes and make your writing sound more natural.
What Are Stative Verbs?
Stative verbs describe a condition, situation, feeling, or quality that exists rather than something that happens. These verbs express states rather than actions. Unlike action verbs, stative verbs often refer to:
- Thoughts or opinions
- Emotions or preferences
- Possession or ownership
- Existence or identity
- Perception without movement
One important thing to note: stative verbs are not usually used in continuous (–ing) tenses. That’s because the state they describe doesn’t change moment to moment.
Example:
- ✅ She owns the bakery.
- ❌ She is owning the bakery.
Using is owning sounds incorrect because own is a stative verb that expresses a fixed state.
Stative verbs help describe how someone feels, thinks, or relates to something, not what they physically do.
Stative Verbs Examples
- She owns a small bookstore near the park.
- We believe her version of the story.
- He seems unsure about the plan.
- I remember the first time we met.
- They love hiking in the mountains.
- The soup tastes much better now.
- The students appreciate clear instructions.
List of Common Stative Verbs in English
| admire | agree | appear | appreciate | be |
| believe | belong | concern | consist | contain |
| depend | desire | disagree | dislike | doubt |
| equal | exist | fear | feel | hate |
| have | hear | imagine | include | involve |
| know | lack | like | love | matter |
| mean | need | notice | owe | own |
| prefer | realize | recognize | remember | resemble |
| respect | retain | satisfy | see | seem |
| smell | sound | suppose | taste | think |
| trust | understand | want | weigh | wish |
Stative Verbs vs. Dynamic Verbs
The difference between stative and dynamic verbs is how they behave in a sentence. Stative verbs describe conditions, relationships, or internal states that don’t change moment to moment. Dynamic verbs, on the other hand, describe actions that can begin, continue, or end.
Example of a stative verb:
- This recipe contains no sugar.
– contains is a stative verb that describes a state of inclusion.
Example of a dynamic verb:
- She is chopping the vegetables.
– is chopping shows an active process happening right now.
Some verbs can be either, depending on meaning:
- I have a bicycle. (stative – possession)
- I’m having dinner. (dynamic – activity)
- He feels confident. (stative – emotional state)
- He is feeling the fabric. (dynamic – physical action)
Types of Stative Verbs with Examples
Stative verbs can be grouped based on the kind of state or condition they describe. Below are the main categories with examples.
Verbs of Emotion and Preference
These verbs describe emotional states, likes, dislikes, and personal preferences.
- love – I love the way this room feels in the morning.
- prefer – He prefers silence over small talk.
- hate – She hates early flights.
- enjoy – They enjoy classical music.
- desire – I desire a more flexible schedule.
- dislike – We dislike being rushed.
- appreciate – I appreciate your honesty.
- fear – She fears public speaking.
These verbs are not typically used in continuous tenses. For example:
- ✅ I appreciate your help.
- ❌ I am appreciating your help.
Verbs of Thinking and Opinion
These stative verbs express thoughts, beliefs, mental states, or opinions. They describe how someone processes or holds information—not actions they’re doing at the moment.
- know – He knows the answer to that question.
- believe – I believe it’s going to rain.
- think (when expressing opinion) – She thinks the price is too high.
- understand – We understand the risks involved.
- remember – Do you remember his name?
- forget – She forgets appointments easily.
- imagine – I imagine that would be difficult.
- doubt – They doubt the results are accurate.
- recognize – I recognized her voice instantly.
- mean – What do you mean by that?
Verbs of Possession
These stative verbs describe ownership, relationships, or things that someone has. Since these are conditions, not actions, they’re generally not used in continuous forms.
- own – They own three properties in the city.
- have – She has a meeting at noon.
- possess – The museum possesses a rare manuscript.
- belong – This suitcase belongs to James.
- include – The package includes two batteries.
- contain – The jar contains dried herbs.
- lack – He lacks the experience needed for the role.
- owe – I owe him an explanation.
- hold (in the sense of ownership) – The account holds private information.
- consist – The team consists of six members.
Verbs of Perception and Senses
These stative verbs describe how things seem, feel, look, or sound—not actions performed by the senses, but impressions or experiences.
- seem – He seems tired today.
- appear – The answer appears correct.
- sound – That idea sounds reasonable.
- look – She looks confident on stage.
- smell – The soup smells delicious.
- taste – This dish tastes a bit salty.
- feel – It feels colder than yesterday.
- resemble – He resembles his grandfather.
- notice – I notice a change in your tone.
- observe – We observe a difference in behavior.
Verbs of Being or Identity
These stative verbs describe states of existence, identity, or characteristics, not actions being performed.
- be – She is a nurse.
- exist – Does this option still exist?
- equal – Two plus two equals four.
- represent – This painting represents a turning point in her career.
- depend – That depends on the situation.
- matter – It matters to me.
- involve – The job involves frequent travel.
- concern – This issue concerns all of us.
- signify – Red can signify danger.
When Can Stative Verbs Be Used in Continuous Form?
Although stative verbs are normally used in simple tenses, there are a few situations where using them in the continuous form is acceptable. These exceptions depend on the meaning of the verb in context.
1. When the verb has both stative and dynamic meanings
Some verbs have one meaning that’s stative and another that’s dynamic. The dynamic version often describes a temporary or changing action.
- I think he’s right. (stative – opinion)
- I’m thinking about moving. (dynamic – mental activity)
- She has two cats. (stative – possession)
- She’s having lunch. (dynamic – action)
2. To Show Emphasis or Temporary Behavior
In informal or conversational English, some stative verbs can appear in the continuous tense to highlight how someone feels in the moment, a shift in behavior, or an emotional reaction. These uses are often stylistic and temporary.
- I’m loving this new playlist.
(Expresses strong enjoyment at the moment) - You’re being too dramatic.
(being is used to describe behavior, not identity) - He’s appearing more confident lately.
(Describes a recent change in how someone seems) - She’s looking amazing in that outfit.
(Temporary state based on appearance right now) - I’m wanting something different for dinner today.
(Informal way to express a momentary craving or preference) - They’re having second thoughts about the trip.
(Describes current doubts or reconsideration)
While grammatically nonstandard in traditional rules, these patterns are common in spoken English and modern usage. For formal writing, stick to the simple tense for stative verbs.
FAQs About Stative Verbs
Why can’t I say “I am knowing the answer”?
Because know is a stative verb. It expresses a mental state, not an action, so it shouldn’t be used in the continuous tense. The correct form is: I know the answer.
Can a stative verb ever be used in continuous form?
Yes, in special cases. Some verbs can be stative or dynamic depending on the meaning. For example, She has a dog (stative) vs. She’s having lunch (dynamic). In informal speech, continuous forms are also used for emphasis: I’m loving this weather!
Are all non-action verbs stative?
Not exactly. Some verbs that seem non-physical—like think, feel, or have—can behave dynamically depending on the situation. The key is whether the verb shows a state or an action in context.
Do stative verbs always use the simple tense?
Usually, yes. The simple present or past tense is standard. But in informal or conversational English, some stative verbs are used in the continuous form for stylistic effect or to show temporary behavior.