Stative and Dynamic verb uses: the essentials
The distinction
There is a fundamental and important distinction in English between stative and dynamic uses of verbs. In many texts, you will see them referred to as 'dynamic' or 'action' verbs or 'state' or 'event' verbs. This is misleading because it is not the verb itself that is stative or dynamic, it's the use to which it is put.
Look at these examples and try to identify which verbs describe an
action and which describe a state.
Click
here
for comments when you have done that.
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Verbs usually with dynamic use (i.e., those which describe an action, not a state) are:
- Verbs which describe processes such as become, worsen, slow
down etc.
Sentence 6 contains the example grow. - Verbs which describe sensation such as hurt, itch, agonise
etc.
Sentence 7 contains the example hurt. - Verbs which describe activities or sudden actions such as read, write, hit, work,
drink etc.
Sentence 3 contains the example read and Sentence 9 contains the example tap. - Verbs which describe a change such as die, depart etc.
Sentence 8 contains the example arrive.
Verbs with stative use (i.e., those which describe passive states, not actions) are:
- Verbs of perception such as perceive, hear, imagine, dislike
etc.
Sentence 2 contains the example is.
Sentence 4 contains the example astonish.
Sentence 7 contains the example, hurt. - Verbs which describe feelings, opinions and preferences such as
like, love, adore, enjoy, prefer etc.
Sentence 10 contains the example love. - Verbs which describe relationships between things / people such
as cost, need, own, sound, seem etc.
Sentence 5 contains the example belong.
Notice that Sentence 7
occurs in both lists. The distinction between perception and
sensation is blurred. We can have
My foot is hurting
as well as
My foot hurts.
One sentence has not been mentioned and this gives the clue to why
this areas matters so much to learners of the language.
Look at Sentences 1 and 2.
In Sentence 2, the verb
to be is used normally.
It usually refers to a state or condition, not an action.
In Sentence 1, on the other hand, it has the unusual
meaning of an action – behaving.
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Tenses |
What do you notice about the tense forms in these sentences? Click here when you see it.
Verbs which are used dynamically can take the progressive aspect;
those used statively cannot.
We do not usually say:
I am understanding
I'm not wanting
It isn't
mattering
I am remembering
unless we want to give a special
meaning to the verbs. Compare the following:
| I think it's him | vs. | I'm thinking of him |
| It costs a lot | It is costing a lot | |
| I recognise him | I am recognising his rights | |
| I wish I could come | I'm wishing on a star | |
| It depends on how much | I'm depending on you |
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Teaching issues |
Think about the implication for teaching, make a few notes and then click here for some comments.
- When we introduce a verb students will assume it can be used in both ways unless we make it clear.
- When teaching the progressive aspects of tenses, we need to bear this distinction in mind at all times.
- We need to be aware that many languages do not make this distinction (often because they don't use the same sort of aspect structures) so it is not an easy concept to grasp.
You may have thought of others. Good if you did.
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Aspect |
The distinction between stative and dynamic uses is explicable by
looking at aspect across languages. Aspect refers to the way the
speaker perceives an event or state in relation to time. Is it
continuous, ongoing, finished etc.?
For example, in many languages there is only one verb for recognise
and know. The distinction between the meanings will often
be made by reference to the aspect of the verb: the perfective (finished
action) form for the sense of I knew him at once and the
imperfective (unfinished state) for the sense of I was acquainted
with him.
It is also possible to explain the difference between It costs
a lot (continuous, steady-state) and It is costing a lot
(progressive action) with reference to aspects of the verb.
| Related guides | |
| tense and aspect | for more on the differences |
| verbs index | for the links to related areas |
| tense and aspect | for the essential guide to two related concepts |
| what verbs do | for a run-down of the functions of verbs |