Stative and Dynamic Verbs! What is a dynamic verb? learnlist of verbsthat can be both stative and dynamic verbs with examples and ESL pictures.
Verbsin English can be classified into two categories:stativeanddynamic verbs.
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 verbdescribes a staterather than an action.
Dynamic verbs are sometimes known as “action verbs.”
Dynamic verb examples:
- Sheactsas a teacher in this movie.
- Heranup to get his schoolbag.
- Heatea 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:
你看起来fantastic in that dress.
Dynamic:
她看着她的反射在镜子里。
Appear
Stative:
He appears to be unhappy.
Dynamic:
She was appearing in concert at Carnegie Hall.
认为
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:
做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 beingimmature.
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
Last Updated on March 1, 2021
Beforehand, I wanna give u thanks for such explanation, thank you for devoting time explaining grammar aspects to us. Besides, I have a question, why don’t verbs such asaccept, acknowledge, admitbelong to the stative verb category *mental states*? I suppose suchverbs are stativebut are not included in the list.
You’re welcome! I’m glad to help.
Regarding your question, verbs like “accept,” “acknowledge,” and “admit” can be considered stative verbs in certain contexts. However, they are not typically included in the category of mental state verbs because they do not express a state of mind or emotion in the same way that verbs like “believe,” “know,” or “feel” do.
Rather, verbs like “accept,” “acknowledge,” and “admit” express a cognitive or behavioral action or process. They describe an action that someone takes in response to something else, such as accepting an invitation, acknowledging a mistake, or admitting to a wrongdoing. These verbs can also be used in a dynamic sense, meaning they can describe ongoing or repeated actions, rather than just a static state.
That being said, the categorization of verbs can be somewhat fluid, and different grammars or linguistic theories may group verbs differently. Ultimately, the most important thing is to understand the meaning and usage of individual verbs in context.