In English, some verbs describe a state: a condition, feeling, possession, or mental situation that is usually stable. Other verbs describe a dynamic action: something that happens, changes, or is done. This difference matters because it affects which tenses sound natural, especially the progressive.

Stative verbs talk about what is true at a moment rather than what is happening as an activity. They often describe thoughts, senses, emotions, relationships, or ownership. Because they describe a state, they usually do not sound natural in the progressive form when they keep their stative meaning.

Dynamic verbs describe actions, events, and processes that can start, stop, and develop over time. They work naturally with the progressive to show an action in progress, temporary activity, or a developing situation. With dynamic verbs, the progressive is a normal choice, not a special one.

In general, stative meanings resist the progressive because a state is not an activity you perform moment by moment. That is why forms like "I am knowing" or "She is owning" usually sound wrong when they mean knowledge or possession. When a verb has a dynamic meaning, the progressive is fine because it describes an ongoing action.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Stative meaning usually avoids the progressive	📌 静态含义通常避免进行时	I know the answer.	📌 我知道答案。
Dynamic meaning commonly uses the progressive	📌 动态含义通常使用进行时	I am working right now.	📌 我现在正在工作。
Same verb can be stative or dynamic depending on meaning	📌 同一动词可根据意义是静态还是动态	I think it is true. / I am thinking about it.	📌 我认为这是真的。/ 我正在考虑它。
Progressive can make a meaning temporary or developing	📌 进行时可以使含义变得临时或正在发展	I am feeling better today.	📌 我今天感觉好些了。

Many common stative verbs belong to typical meaning groups like opinion, emotion, senses, possession, and relationship. These verbs are often simple-present verbs when you describe what is true now. The same verb may still become dynamic in a different meaning, so focus on meaning, not the word list.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
know	📌 知道	have knowledge	📌 拥有知识	I know her name.	📌 我知道她的名字。
believe	📌 相信	accept as true	📌 将…视为真实	They believe you.	📌 他们相信你。
like	📌 喜欢	enjoy	📌 享受	I like this song.	📌 我喜欢这首歌。
love	📌 爱	feel strong affection	📌 对…有强烈的感情	She loves her job.	📌 她热爱她的工作。
hate	📌 讨厌	strongly dislike	📌 强烈不喜欢	He hates noise.	📌 他讨厌噪音。
need	📌 需要	require	📌 需要	We need more time.	📌 我们需要更多时间。
own	📌 拥有	possess legally	📌 合法地拥有	She owns a car.	📌 她拥有一辆车。
belong	📌 属于	be part of something	📌 是某物的一部分	This bag belongs to me.	📌 这个包属于我。
seem	📌 似乎	appear	📌 看起来像	It seems fine.	📌 看起来没问题。
understand	📌 理解	comprehend	📌 理解	I understand the rule.	📌 我理解这个规则。

Dynamic verbs include physical actions, purposeful activities, and events that unfold. They easily take progressive forms to show an action in progress or a temporary routine. When you want to highlight activity and change, dynamic verbs are the default type.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
run	📌 跑步	move quickly on foot	📌 以步行方式快速移动	She is running.	📌 她正在跑步。
write	📌 写	produce text	📌 产生文本	I am writing an email.	📌 我正在写一封电子邮件。
cook	📌 烹饪	prepare food	📌 准备食物	They are cooking dinner.	📌 他们正在做晚饭。
build	📌 建造	make by constructing	📌 通过构建来制造	We are building a shed.	📌 我们正在建一个棚子。
study	📌 学习	learn actively	📌 积极学习	He is studying for finals.	📌 他正在为期末考试学习。
talk	📌 交谈	speak	📌 说话	They are talking outside.	📌 他们在外面聊着天。
change	📌 改变	become different	📌 变得不同	The weather is changing.	📌 天气正在变化。
grow	📌 成长	develop over time	📌 随着时间发展	The company is growing fast.	📌 这家公司正在快速成长。

Several English verbs can be stative in one meaning and dynamic in another. The progressive is usually allowed when the verb describes an action you do or an experience happening, not a stable fact. Learning these verbs as meaning pairs helps you choose the correct form without memorizing long exceptions.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
think is stative for opinion, dynamic for mental process	📌 think 在观点上是静态的，在心理过程上是动态的	I think it is late. / I am thinking about dinner.	📌 我觉得现在很晚。/ 我正在考虑晚餐。
have is stative for possession, dynamic for activities	📌 have 在所有权方面是静态的，在活动方面是动态的	She has a car. / She is having lunch.	📌 她有一辆车。/ 她正在吃午饭。
see is stative for perception, dynamic for meeting or dating	📌 see 在感知方面是静态的，在会面或约会方面是动态的	I see the problem. / I am seeing a doctor.	📌 我看到这个问题。/ 我正在看医生。
feel can be stative for opinion, dynamic for physical sensation changing	📌 feel 在观点上是静态的，在身体感官感受变化上是动态的	I feel this is wrong. / I am feeling tired today.	📌 我觉得这错了。/ 我今天感觉很疲倦。
taste and smell can be stative for perception, dynamic for testing	📌 taste 与 smell 在感知方面是静态的，在测试时是动态的	It tastes sweet. / He is tasting the soup.	📌 它尝起来很甜。/ 他正在品尝汤。
look can be dynamic for directing your eyes, or describe appearance in stative structures	📌 look 可以是动态的，用于指向你的眼睛，或者在静态结构中描述外观	Look at this. / It looks expensive.	📌 看这个。/ 看起来很贵。

The present simple is the normal tense for stative meanings because it describes what is true now, not an activity in progress. With dynamic verbs, the present simple often describes habits, routines, and repeated actions rather than what is happening at this exact moment. This contrast is a practical way to decide between present simple and present progressive.

The present progressive highlights an activity in progress, a temporary situation, or a change happening around now, so it strongly matches dynamic meanings. With some verbs that are usually stative, the progressive can be used when the meaning becomes an action, a developing experience, or a deliberate behavior. When you choose the progressive with a normally stative verb, you are usually changing the meaning or adding a temporary, in-progress viewpoint.

To choose correctly, ask what you want to describe: a stable state or an ongoing action. If it is a state, use a simple tense unless the verb meaning shifts to an activity. If it is an activity, the progressive is often natural, especially when you want to emphasize that it is happening now or only for a limited time.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
If it is a state, prefer simple present	📌 如果是状态，偏好使用一般现在时	I prefer tea.	📌 我更喜欢茶。
If it is happening now, prefer present progressive	📌 如果正在发生，请使用现在进行时	I am cooking now.	📌 我现在正在做饭。
If the progressive changes the meaning, check the new meaning is intended	📌 如果进行时改变了意义，请确认新意义是否符合预期	I am having a great time.	📌 我玩得很开心。
If you mean a temporary or developing situation, progressive is common	📌 如果你意味着一个临时或正在发展的情形，进行时很常见	She is living with her aunt this month.	📌 她这个月与姑妈同住。