Level: B1-B2

Stative vs Dynamic Verbs — Practice

Stative verbs describe states (know, want, own, love) and don’t normally take -ing. Dynamic verbs describe actions (run, write, eat, play) and do. Use the 5-second test to tell them apart, and watch out for the seven most common dual-meaning verbs. 46 click-to-hear ESL examples.

📝 Verbs unit · lesson 7 of 17 ⏱ about 14 minutes 🔊 every example has audio

Builds on Linking vs Action Next in unit Helping Verbs →

Stative or dynamic? Quick guide

Every verb is one of two basic types:

Dynamic verb — describes an action you DO. It happens over time, with effort or change.
She runs every morning. He is writing a letter.
Stative verb — describes a state that just IS. No action, no progress, no effort.
I know the answer. She owns a car.

🎯 The 5-second test

Ask yourself: can I watch this happen for 5 seconds? If yes, it’s dynamic (an action). If it just IS a fact, state, feeling, or perception, it’s stative.

She runs. → you can watch her running for 5 seconds ✓ → dynamic
She knows the answer. → you can’t watch “knowing” happen ✗ → stative
He is writing a letter. → you can watch him writing ✓ → dynamic
He owns a house. → you can’t watch “owning” happen ✗ → stative

⚠️ The key usage rule — no -ing for stative verbs

-ing means “happening right now, in progress” — but a state isn’t happening, it just IS. So stative verbs don’t normally take the -ing form. Use the simple tense instead.

I am knowing the answer.

I know the answer.

She is loving chocolate.

She loves chocolate.

Common stative verbs (normally use simple tense)

Mental: know, believe, understand, remember, forget, recognize
Emotion: like, love, hate, prefer, want, need, wish
Possession: have (=own), own, possess, belong
Senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel
Existence: be, seem, appear, exist

Common dynamic verbs (can use -ing)

Physical action: run, walk, jump, swim, throw, build, write, eat, drink
Communication: say, ask, answer, explain, tell, shout, whisper
Mental activity: study, learn, decide, consider, plan
Change / process: grow, change, develop, improve, become

⚠️ Dual-meaning verbs — same word, two meanings, two forms

Some verbs are stative for one meaning and dynamic for another. The form changes with the meaning.

Verb	Stative (state) — simple tense	Dynamic (action) — -ing OK
think	opinion: I think you are right.	considering: I am thinking about it.
have	possess: She has a car.	eat / experience: She is having dinner.
see	understand: I see what you mean.	meet / visit: I am seeing the doctor.
taste	have a flavor: The soup tastes salty.	sample: The chef is tasting the soup.
smell	have an odor: The roses smell sweet.	sniff: She is smelling the flowers.
feel	emotion: I feel happy.	touch: She is feeling the fabric.
be	state: He is rude.	behave: He is being rude right now.

📖 Want the full explanation? See English Verbs → Non-action verbs on the main grammar page.

How to use this page

🔊 Listen: click the speaker icon to hear the whole line read aloud.
Word audio: click any word to hear it spoken on its own.
🌐 Translate: choose a language then click the globe icon to open Google Translate.
☑️ Select & practice: tick the checkboxes to choose items, then print them, make a worksheet or flashcards, or start a quiz.

Stative verbs (use simple tense)
I know the answer. – Stative
She loves chocolate. – Stative
They own a big house. – Stative
This soup smells delicious. – Stative
I believe you. – Stative
He wants a new phone. – Stative
We need more time. – Stative
She remembers his birthday. – Stative
Dynamic verbs in -ing form (action in progress)
She is running in the park. – Dynamic
He is writing a letter. – Dynamic
They are eating dinner. – Dynamic
I am studying for the test. – Dynamic
We are watching a movie. – Dynamic
The kids are playing outside. – Dynamic
Dynamic verbs in simple form (habits, facts, routines)
She runs every morning. – Dynamic
He writes every day. – Dynamic
They eat lunch at noon. – Dynamic
I walk to school every day. – Dynamic
Dual-meaning: think (opinion = Stative; considering = Dynamic)
I think you are right. – Stative
She thinks it is a great idea. – Stative
I am thinking about my homework. – Dynamic
She is thinking about moving to Spain. – Dynamic
Dual-meaning: have (possess = Stative; eat/experience = Dynamic)
She has a new car. – Stative
I have two brothers. – Stative
She is having dinner. – Dynamic
We are having a great time. – Dynamic
Dual-meaning: see (understand = Stative; meet = Dynamic)
I see what you mean. – Stative
She sees the problem clearly. – Stative
I am seeing the doctor tomorrow. – Dynamic
He is seeing a new client today. – Dynamic
Dual-meaning: taste (have a flavor = Stative; sample = Dynamic)
The soup tastes salty. – Stative
This coffee tastes bitter. – Stative
The chef is tasting the soup. – Dynamic
She is tasting the wine. – Dynamic
Dual-meaning: smell (have an odor = Stative; sniff = Dynamic)
The roses smell sweet. – Stative
This milk smells bad. – Stative
She is smelling the flowers in the garden. – Dynamic
He is smelling the soup. – Dynamic
Dual-meaning: feel (emotion = Stative; touch = Dynamic)
I feel happy today. – Stative
She feels tired after work. – Stative
She is feeling the soft fabric. – Dynamic
He is feeling the soft pillow. – Dynamic
Dual-meaning: be (state = Stative; behave = Dynamic)
He is a kind person. – Stative
She is very smart. – Stative
He is being rude right now. – Dynamic
The children are being silly today. – Dynamic

Where to go from here