Stative Verbs: Definition and Useful Examples in English

What is a stative verb? The following lesson provides definition and examples of stative verbs in English with ESL infographics.

Stative Verbs

Stative Verb Definition

Stative verbs are verbs that describe a state rather than an action. When describing states, they never take the continuous (‘-ing’) form.

Stative Verb Examples

Here are some examples of stative verbs and instances of their correct and incorrect usage.

Other Stative Verbs

Agree

• I agree with you to a certain degree.

Astonish

• It astonished her that he was able to survive.

Doubt

• I doubt the accuracy of his statement.

Belong

• They belong to the country club.

Concern

• It doesn’t concern you.

Appreciate

• Her family doesn’t appreciate her.

Consist

• The atmosphere consist of more than 70 % of nitrogen.

Adore

• I would adore to settle back homeland.

Cost

• It will cost you 1000 yuan at most.

Feel

• I feel awful about forgetting her birthday.

Have

• I have a bit of a fever.

Deny

• He will not confirm or deny the allegations.

Depend

• You can’t depend on your parents forever.

Detest

• I detest violence with my whole being.

Disagree

• We disagree to the communique.

Dislike

• He seems to dislike any form of exercise.

Lack

• Our main problem is lack of cash.

Contain

• He could hardly contain his fury.

Equal

• Nobody can equal him in intelligence.

Matter

• It doesn’t matter how you do it.

Deserve

• You deserve all the credit.

Hear

• I want to hear your explanation for being late.

Imagine

• I can just imagine him saying that!

Involve

• Don’t involve yourself with those people.

Know

• You know perfectly well what I mean.

Loathe

• The two men loathe each other.

Recognize

• I could scarcely recognize him.

Mean

• He didn’t mean to harm you.

Mind

• Do you mind if I ask you a favor?

Need

• We need to assess the impact on climate change.

Look

• You look good in that shirt.

Owe

• I owe him an apology.

Understand

• I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.

Want

• I want to know more about it in detail.

Own

• I own that you are right.

See

• She was sad to see him go.

Weigh

• I always weigh my words before speaking.

Surprise

• He may surprise us all yet.

Seem

• I seem to have accumulated a lot of books.

Prefer

• I prefer coffee in the morning.

Wish

• I wish we had a car.

Promise

• I promise I will do my duty.

Realize

• I didn’t realize you were so unhappy.

Resemble

• You resemble your mother very closely.

Satisfy

• This work does not satisfy me.

Smell

• I can smell your perfume a mile away.

Suppose

• I suppose I was quite promiscuous in my youth.

Think

• I think it’s a load of bull.

Stative Verbs in English | Infographic

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