Stative verbs

Stative verbs are verbs with no continuous form. They generally refer to the following groups of verbs:

1. Possession

I have brown hair (not I’m having a brown hair).
I own a car (not I’m owning a car).
This computer belongs to John (not this computer is belonging to John).
He possesses at least four houses (not he is possessing at least four houses).

2. Emotion

I love you. (not I’m loving you).
I like going to the cinema (not I’m liking going to the cinema).
He hates rainy days (not He is hating rainy days).
I want to go. (not I’m wanting to go).

3. Thought

I know him very well. (not I’m knowing him very well).
I believe you (not I’m believing you).
I don’t understand what you are saying (not I’m not understanding what you are saying).
I agree with you (not I’m agreeing with you).

4. Senses

I see you (not I’m seeing you).
I hear the sea (not I’m hearing the sea).
The coffee smells delicious (not The coffee smells delicious).
This soup tastes really nice (not This soup is tasting really nice).

Remember Stative verbs cannot be used in any continuous tense (present continuous, past continuous, present perfect continuous, past perfect continuous, future continuous or future perfect continuous).

 

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