Stative Verbs | List, Examples & Definition
Stative verbs (sometimes called state verbs) describe a state, condition, or perception. The state can be physical, mental, or emotional (e.g., “be,” “believe,” “love”).
In contrast, action verbs (aka dynamic verbs) describe an action carried out by or on the subject (e.g., “eat,” “throw,” “run”).
She has a nice car.
The coffee tastes delicious.
What are stative verbs?
Stative verbs (aka state verbs) describe the state, condition, or perception of the subject, while action verbs (aka dynamic verbs) describe an action performed by or on the subject.
Some verbs can be either stative or dynamic depending on whether they are describing an action or a state.
The dog smelled the flowers.
One difference between stative and dynamic verbs is that continuous tenses are usually incorrect for stative verbs, regardless of whether they describe a long-term state or a temporary perception. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you catch this and other mistakes.
- I believe in fairies.
- I am believing in fairies.
- I saw a shooting star.
- I was seeing a shooting star.
You might hear some other stative verbs used in continuous tenses in casual speech, often for emphasis (e.g., “I am loving this game” or “are you seeing what I’m seeing?”).
The simple tense is never incorrect for stative verbs, so use this if you’re ever in doubt.
Stative verbs vs linking verbs
Linking verbs are also stative verbs, but not all stative verbs are linking verbs.
Stative verbs that aren’t linking verbs are often transitive, that is, followed by a direct object (e.g., “I have two cats”). They can also be intransitive (e.g., “I agree”).
Linking verbs, on the other hand, are always followed by a subject complement (e.g., a predicate nominative) that describes, identifies, or redefines the subject.
Her favorite book was Great Expectations. (stative and linking)
- He appeared sad. → He was sad. (stative and linking verb)
- He resembled her. → He was her. (stative verb)
Stative verbs examples
Stative verbs usually fall into one of these categories:
- Opinions, thoughts, and emotions
- Senses and perceptions
- Possession
- Characteristics or composition
- Existence or other conditions
Stative verbs for opinions, thoughts, and emotions
Our personal beliefs, feelings, and opinions are often unconsciously processed or outside of our control; they aren’t deliberate actions. And although they can change over time, they’re usually long-lasting and don’t have a fixed end point.
I want to visit Iceland.
He believes in Santa Claus.
Stative verbs for senses and perceptions
Sense verbs like “taste,” “smell,” and “feel” can be either action verbs or stative verbs.
If a sense verb is describing a quality of something (e.g., how it smells or sounds) or a sense someone is passively experiencing, it’s a stative verb.
If it’s describing a deliberate action, even if it’s to do with the senses, it’s an action verb.
I tasted paprika in the stew. [I involuntarily experienced the taste of paprika]
I tasted the stew to see how the flavor was.
Stative verbs for possession
Possessing something is a state rather than an action. Stative verbs of possession can describe ownership, relationship, or what something includes.
The tour includes free chocolate tasting.
Stative verbs for characteristics or composition
Stative verbs can describe the physical qualities, cost, or composition of something (e.g., “measure,” “resemble,” “contain”).
Our trip will cost $500 each.The alloy consists of copper, nickel, and zinc.
Stative verbs for existence or other conditions
There are a few other stative verbs that don’t fit neatly into the other categories but still describe a state or condition of the subject.
You deserve each other.This means war.
Stative verbs list
Below is a list of common stative verbs split into categories. Remember that many of these verbs can also be action verbs depending on the context.
| Category |
Verbs |
Examples |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Opinions and thoughts | Agree Appreciate Believe Disagree Doubt Imagine Know Mind Prefer Realize Recognize Remember Support Suppose Think Understand Value |
I doubt they will mind. They know how to get there. I value your opinion. |
|
| Emotions | Detest Dislike Envy Fear Hate Hope Like Loathe Love Need Want Wish |
I detest avocado. Guillaume hoped he would pass his exam. Dominik envied Bella’s confidence. |
|
| Senses | Appear Feel Hear Look See Seem Sense Smell Sound Taste |
The magician appeared to have sawn the woman in half. He felt happy to be alive. The movie looked interesting. |
|
| Possession | Belong Have Include Lack Own Possess |
We belong together. The dance lacked sophistication. The principal owns over 300 pairs of shoes. |
|
| Composition and characteristics | Comprise Consist Contain Cost Equal Measure Resemble Span Weigh |
The cake contains milk, eggs, and nuts. The Severn Bridge spans the River Severn. His skill will never equal yours. |
|
| Existence or other conditions | Be Become Concern Deserve Involve Matter Mean Promise Require Signify |
This concerns all of us. Doing the right thing matters even if no one else sees it. Writing a novel involves a lot of editing. |
Stative verbs exercises
Test your understanding of stative verbs with these exercise questions.
Frequently asked questions about stative verbs
- What is the difference between stative and dynamic verbs?
-
Stative verbs (aka state verbs) describe a state, condition, or perception. The state can be physical, mental, or emotional (e.g., “be,” “believe,” “love”).
Dynamic verbs (aka action verbs) describe an action carried out by or on the subject (e.g., “eat,” “throw,” “run”). The action can be cognitive or sensory as well as physical (e.g., “he is thinking about buying a house,” “she looked at the schedule”).
Some verbs can be either dynamic or stative depending on whether they are describing an action or a state.
- Is cost a verb?
-
“Cost” can be either a noun or a verb.
As a noun, “cost” can refer to the money needed to buy or do something (e.g., “the cost of housing is too high”) or the loss something requires or results in (e.g., “the war was won, but at the cost of many lives”).
As a verb, “cost” is usually a transitive and stative verb used to describe the price of something or the loss resulting from something (e.g., “her new suit cost $500,” “her credit card debt cost her her marriage”).
In professional environments, “cost” can be used as an action verb meaning to calculate how much something will be (e.g., “we need to cost the new project”). The simple past tense of “cost” in this context is “costed.”
