Stative and Dynamic Verbs! What is a dynamic verb? learn list of verbs that can be both stative and dynamic verbs with examples and ESL pictures.
Verbs in English can be classified into two categories: stative and dynamic verbs.
Table of Contents
Dynamic Verbs
What is a dynamic verb? In English grammar, a “dynamic verb” means that the verb describes an action rather than a state. In contrast, a “stative verb” means that the verb describes a state rather than an action.
Dynamic verbs are sometimes known as “action verbs.”
Dynamic verb examples:
- She acts as a teacher in this movie.
- He ran up to get his schoolbag.
- He ate a whole pot of jam.
Verbs Can be Both Stative and Dynamic Verbs
Some verbs can function as BOTH stative verbs and dynamic verbs:
Look
Stative:
You look fantastic in that dress.
Dynamic:
She is looking at her reflection in the mirror.
Appear
Stative:
He appears to be unhappy.
Dynamic:
She was appearing in concert at Carnegie Hall.
Think
Stative:
I think that Mr. Peter is a good teacher.
Dynamic:
I am thinking about my family right now.
Feel
Stative:
I feel that we ought to accept his proposal.
Dynamic:
I’m feeling a bit dozy this afternoon.
Have
Stative:
They have a Mercedes Benz.
Dynamic:
We’re having a party on Saturday.
See
Stative:
Do you see that bird?
Dynamic:
The doctor is seeing a patient now.
Taste
Stative:
Mmm! This tastes good!
Dynamic:
My mother is tasting the potato soup.
Smell
Stative:
The stew smells delicious.
Dynamic:
Ann is smelling the perfume to see if she wants to buy it.
Be
Stative:
He is immature.
Dynamic:
He is being immature.
Weigh
Stative:
The suitcase weighs 20 pounds.
Dynamic:
The butcher is weighing the meat on the scale.
Measure
Stative:
The surfboard measures 2 meters by 55 centimeters.
Dynamic:
The architects were measuring the distance between the pillars.
Mind
Stative:
I don’t mind if we watch a movie tonight.
Dynamic:
I’m not being nosy. I’m minding my own business.
Stative and Dynamic Verbs | Picture
what about the verb’to live’?
It can be used in either perfect or continuous tense; present tense gives it a more permanent sense (I live in Canada = my permanent home is in Canada) whereas the continuous form gives it a more temporary sense (I’m living in Canada = right now I’m staying in Canada but this isn’t where I always live).
Hope that helps!
Nicole is right – It can be used in the continuous tenses. This is because it’s a dynamic verb, not a stative one – ‘living’ includes eating, sleeping, working, talking and every action we take while we’re alive.
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ממ
It’great to go through the topics.