Stative verbs

Some verbs are only (or mostly) used in simple tenses, and are not used in continuous tenses. An example of a simple tense is the present simple, or the past simple. An example of a continuous tense is the present continuous or past continuous. These verbs are called stative, or state verbs. A verb which isn’t stative is called a dynamic verb, and is usually an action. Often stative verbs are about liking or disliking something, or about a mental state, not about an action.

Agree:

• Correct: Sarah doesn't share our view.
• Not correct: She isn't concurring with us.

Appear:

• Correct: It seems to be snowing.
• Not correct: It is seeming to be snowing.

Believe:

• Correct: I don’t believe her.
• Not correct: I am not trusting her.

Belong:

• Correct: This book was my grandmother's possession.
• Not correct: This book was being owned by my grandmother.

Concern:

• Correct: This concerns you.
• Not correct: This is bothering you.

Consist:

• Correct: Bread is made of flour, water and yeast.
• Not correct: Bread is being made up of flour, water and yeast.

Contain:

• Correct: Inside this box is a large cake.
• Not correct: This box is holding a large cake.

Depend:

• Correct: It depends on you.
• Not correct: It is relying on you.

Deserve:

• Correct: He merits passing that exam.
• Not correct: He is meriting to pass that exam.

Disagree:

• Correct: I disagree with Tom.
• Not correct: I am opposing Tom.

Dislike:

• Correct: For years, potatoes have been something I dislike.
• Not correct: I have been disliking vegetables for years.

Doubt:

• Correct: I question what you are saying.
• Not correct: I am questioning your words.

Feel (= have an opinion):

• Correct: This doesn't seem like a good idea to me.
• Not correct: I am not sensing that this is a good idea.

Fit:

• Correct: The skirt suits me well.
• Not correct: This skirt is suiting me well.

Hate:

• Correct: Julie has never liked cats.
• Not correct: Julie's always been disliking cats.

Imagine:

• Correct: I'd say you must be tired.
• Not correct: I am supposing you must be tired.

Impress:

• Correct: His story made a strong impression on me.
• Not correct: Through his story he was impressing me.

Include:

• Correct: This cookbook features a recipe for bread.
• Not correct: This cookbook is featuring a recipe for bread.

Involve:

• Correct: The job necessitates a lot of travelling.
• Not correct: The job is necessitating a lot of travelling.

Know:

• Correct: I have been acquainted with George for ten years.
• Not correct: For ten years now I have been knowing George.

Like:

• Correct: I take pleasure in reading detective stories.
• Not correct: Reading detective stories is something I am liking.

Love:

• Correct: I love chocolate.
• Not correct: Chocolate is something I'm loving.

Matter:

• Correct: It doesn’t matter.
• Not correct: Whether it's mattering is beside the point.

Mean:

• Correct: 'Enormous' conveys the meaning 'very big'.
• Not correct: 'Enormous' is conveying the meaning 'very big'.

Measure (= be long):

• Correct: This window measures 150cm.
• Not correct: This window is measuring 150cm.

Mind:

• Correct: She has no problem with the noise.
• Not correct: The noise isn't something she's minding.

Need:

• Correct: At three o'clock yesterday I required a taxi.
• Not correct: At three o'clock yesterday I was requiring a taxi.

Owe:

• Correct: I owe you £20.
• Not correct: £20 is what I am owing you.

Own:

• Correct: She owns two cars.
• Not correct: Two cars are what she is owning.

Prefer:

• Correct: My preference is chocolate ice cream.
• Not correct: What I am preferring is chocolate ice cream.

Promise:

• Correct: My promise is to help you tomorrow.
• Not correct: I am promising you assistance tomorrow.

Realise:

• Correct: I failed to understand the problem.
• Not correct: I wasn't realising how serious the problem was.

Recognise:

• Correct: I didn't manage to recognise my old friend.
• Not correct: On seeing them, I wasn't recognising my old friend.

Remember:

• Correct: My name didn't come to his mind.
• Not correct: He wasn't remembering what my name was.

Seem:

• Correct: The weather appears to be getting better.
• Not correct: The weather is seeming to get better.

Sound:

• Correct: Your idea sounds excellent.
• Not correct: Your idea is sounding excellent.

Suppose:

• Correct: I suppose John will arrive late.
• Not correct: I'm supposing John will arrive late.

Surprise:

• Correct: I was surprised by the noise.
• Not correct: That noise was surprising me terribly.

Understand:

• Correct: I don't understand what this question means.
• Not correct: I'm not understanding what this question is about.

Want:

• Correct: I want to visit the cinema this evening.
• Not correct: I am wanting to visit the cinema this evening.

Weigh (= have weigh):

• Correct: This cake weighs 450g.
• Not correct: This cake is weighing 450g.

Wish:

• Correct: I wish I had put in more effort with my studies.
• Not correct: I am wishing I had put in more effort with my studies.