Verbs in English divide into stative and dynamic based on whether they describe an unchanging condition or an action that can happen over time. This distinction affects meaning and which verb forms sound natural.
Stative Verbs
Stative verbs describe states, feelings, possession, senses, or thoughts that are generally constant rather than actions you perform. They typically appear in simple forms and are not used in continuous tenses when describing an unchanging condition.
Examples
I have a red car parked outside.
Categories
Exceptions
Dynamic Verbs
Dynamic verbs describe actions, processes, or changes that you can see happening and that can be used in both simple and continuous tenses. They often represent activities you can start, stop, and repeat.
Examples
Activities
Benefits
Verbs That Change Meaning
Some verbs can be stative or dynamic depending on whether they're used to describe a state or an action, so paying attention to context and verb form is important for meaning.
Examples
Comparison
Practice
| English Sentence | Identify Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| 🌟 I’m thinking of a new game for the festival. | Dynamic (considering) | |
| 📢 She thinks the music is too loud. | Stative (opinion) | |
| 🎡 They are having a great time on the rides. | Dynamic (enjoying) | |
| 🏷️ We have many colorful signs. | Stative (possessing) | |
| 🗣️ He saw the speaker’s point clearly. | Stative (understand) | |
| 🌇 We are seeing the sunset from the hill. | Dynamic (viewing) |
Signal Words
Certain adverbs and time expressions often appear with dynamic verbs and can help you decide whether to use a simple or continuous form.
Common Adverbs
Time Expressions
Summary
Understanding whether a verb is stative or dynamic guides you in choosing between simple and continuous forms and ensures your descriptions of states versus actions are clear and natural.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025