Special uses of stative verbs

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Some stative verbs can be used as dynamic verbs; that is, they can attract ‘-ing’ or be used in a continuous or progressive tense.

However, the meanings will differ slightly.

ALSO READ

• NRTC English: ‘Corps’ is pronounced just like ‘core’, not as ‘corpse’
• NRTC English: How to use ‘if’ in a conditional statement or tense
• NRTC English: Other similar, standard expressions to ‘no gree for anybody’

These verbs are: look, appear, think, feel, have, see, taste, smell, be, weigh, ,measure, mind. Perhaps others might exist. I’m going to discuss them one after the other.

Look

1. You look fantastic in that dress.—stative
2. 2. She is looking at her reflection in the mirror.—dynamic

The first example tells us how you look in that dress, your current state. While the second example shows how she is checking or admiring herself (which shows an action) in the mirror.

Appear

1. He appears to be unhappy. (when you tell or describe how a person appears with an adjective, then that is a stative verb. Another example is he appears sad. “Sad” is an adjective. You wouldn’t say he is appearing sad because he has already appeared as such. It can’t be in the progressive form. The third example is the symbol appears in many paintings of the period (to feature or be shown).
2. She was appearing in concert at Carnegie Hall. This second example means someone showing herself and apparently moving around for people to see her, hence its being a dynamic verb.

Think

1. I think (opinion) that Mr Francis is an awesome teacher.—stative (this simply summarizes the opinion you have of Mr Francis).
2. I am thinking about my family right now.—dynamic verb (this means you are meditating or searching for ways to see or check up on your family hence its being a dynamic verb)

Feel

1. I feel that we ought to accept his proposal.—stative (feel as a stative verb expresses your opinion or simply the feeling you have about something).
2. I’m feeling a bit dozy this afternoon.—dynamic (feel as a dynamic verb is used to describe the temporary state, as in cold, warm or tired, that you are).You can also say I’m feeling a bit tired today.

Have

1. They have a Mercedes Benz.—stative verb. (it shows a possession).
2. We’re having a party on Saturday.—dynamic (it means organizing or holding, and invariably having fun that day like drinking and…you name it).

See

1. Do you see that bird?—stative (sensory perception).
2. The doctor is seeing a patient now.—dynamic (checking, asking questions from, or examining the patient).

Taste

1. Mmm! This tastes good!—stative verb (sensory perception)
2. My mother is tasting the potato soup.—dynamic (the activity).

Smell

1. The stew smells delicious.—stative
2. Ann is smelling the perfume to see if she wants to buy it.—dynamic

Be

1. He is immature.—stative (state of being)
2. He is being immature.—dynamic (temporarily displaying that particular behaviour).

Weigh

1. The suitcase weighs 20 pounds.—stative
2. The butcher is weighing the meat on the scale.—dynamic (performing that activity).

Measure

1. The surfboard measures 2 meters by 55 centimeters.—stative
2. The architects were measuring the distance between the pillars.—dynamic.

Mind

1. I don’t mind if we watch a movie tonight.—stative verb (I’d like us to do something)I’m not being nosy.
2. I’m minding (paying attention to) my own business.—dynamic

Lastly, most verbs that are considered stative can also be used:

1. to head a participial phrase as in having seen her father, she quickly ran away.
2. as a gerund or a head of a gerundive phrase as in seeing is believing, loving her is not enough, other things must count and in fact, overshadow the consideration for love.
3. in special cases like I look forward to hearing from you, he keeps/can’t help seeing the woman in spite of the dangers involved, I’m loving this journey (It means right at this second I’m enjoying it. It’s also more emphatic and sensory than I love it).

I’m sure you’ve mastered the fine details in verbs that can be used in the stative and dynamic sense, and the special uses of these verbs.