Transcript When is a verb not an `action` word?

When is a verb not an ‘action’ word?
Spot the verb
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They researched the topic thoroughly.
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The plant will be modified at a cost of £9m.
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The managing director is challenging the
proposal.
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The union wants a voice in this decision.
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Management need to consult before taking
action.
‘Dynamic’ vs. ‘Stative’ Verbs
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Most verbs are ‘dynamic’: they describe an
action:
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E.g. to research, to modify, to challenge
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I am researching my dissertation.
I have been researching my dissertation since June.
Some verbs are ‘stative’: they describe a state of
being, or a condition:
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E.g. to want, to need
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I want something to eat; I’m hungry!
I’ve wanted something to eat since 8:00!
Stative verbs do not
take the progressive (-ing) form.
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(..except in certain cases and we’ll talk about that later…)
OK or not OK?
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The panel is submitting their report later today.
The government is considering the issue.
That book is belonging to me.
He is preferring to retire early.
I’ve been studying for 3 hours every night.
I’m knowing a lot more vocabulary now.
That song is sounding familiar.
I’m listening to every word you say.
I’m hearing every word you say.
Stative verbs deal with….
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Emotions, feelings, e.g.:
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adore
appreciate
care*
desire
detest
dislike
envy
fear
hate
like
love
mind
prefer
respect
trust*
want
wish*
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I adore sushi.
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We appreciate the work the
secretaries do.
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The CEO doesn’t care if the
workers go on strike.
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Sense perception, e.g.:
 feel*
 hear*
 notice
 perceive
 resemble
 see*
 seem*
 smell*
 sound
 taste*
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She feels cold.
I hear what you are
saying.
The tutors notice that
you have been absent
from class.
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Possession, e.g.:
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belong
contain
have*
lack
own
possess
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The meeting room
belongs to the student
committee.
The company has 12
offices worldwide.
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Mental processes, e.g.:
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agree
believe
doubt*
estimate*
expect
feel*
forget
forgive
guess
hope*
imagine
know
mean
realise
recall
recognise
regard
remember
suppose
think*
understand
wonder*
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We agree with your
idea.
He believes we should
attempt it.
We tend not to doubt
what we read in the
newspaper.
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State of being, e.g.:
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be*
concern
cost*
depend
deserve
equal
fit*
matter
mean
need
owe
seem
tend
weigh
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He’s a foolish person.
The study concerns plans
to build a new plant near
the city centre.
The coat costs £75.
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What about the ones*
that go both ways?
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Some stative verbs can be used in the
progressive form, but the verb then has a
different meaning.
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involuntary vs. voluntary
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real vs. imaginary
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I smell something cooking.
I am smelling the milk to see if it’s OK to drink.
I hear music.
You’re hearing things– there’s no music!
permanent condition vs. temporary situation
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I have trouble with my boss.
I’m having trouble with my boss.
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care
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We care about the workers’ concerns.
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Some of the workers start work late because they
are caring for elderly parents.
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their concerns are important to us
they look after them: they feed them, help them dress, etc.
trust
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We trust management to look after the company’s
future.
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this is the normal state of affairs
We are trusting management to look after the
company’s future.
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we hope they will but there is some uncertainty; this is a one-time event
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wish
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I wish I had £1m. I wish you’d leave me alone.
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I’m wishing for a new car for my birthday.
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desire for something; dissatisfaction with a situation
+ ‘for’: praying for something to come true or happen
feel
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She feels a spider climbing up her leg.
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He feels he’s right about his decision.
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believes
He’s feeling / feels tired/angry/cold/ill.
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aware of the sense of touch
physical or mental state
He’s feeling the fruit to see if it’s ripe.
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touching voluntarily.
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hear
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I hear guitars playing. I hear you got fired.
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We’re hearing talks of lay-offs from management.
We’re hearing a lot about global warming these days.
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to be aware of what others are currently discussing
He’s hearing angels singing; he should see a doctor.
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to receive sound involuntarily; to be told something
to imagine sounds
see
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She sees a spider climbing up her leg.
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You see I’m right about the decision.
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understand
We’re seeing a decline in sales this year.
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use sight
be aware of what others are doing or what is happening around you
You’re seeing things: there are no angels on my head!
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to hallucinate: imagine seeing something that isn’t there
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smell
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That soup smells delicious / awful.
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That soup smells; are you sure it’s fresh?
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to receive smell involuntarily
to have a bad smell
He’s smelling the fruit to see if it’s ripe.
to seek smell voluntarily
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taste
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Your cooking always tastes great / awful.
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use sense of taste involuntarily
I’m tasting the wine to see if it’s good .
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try out; taste voluntarily
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have
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She has beautiful eyes.
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I have an allergy to cats. I have a headache. I have a
broken leg.
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be unwell, sick, physical condition
I’m having a lot of headaches these days. I’m having
problems at work.
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own; possess
temporary situation that one is involved in
think
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I think you’re great. I think I’ll spend tonight studying.
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I’m thinking about (of) studying tonight .
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belief, intention
consider (maybe I will, maybe I won’t)
I’m thinking about (of) what to have for lunch.
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actively use the brain!
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be
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He is an idiot.
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He is being an idiot.
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natural state of being
behave temporarily in a certain way
cost
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The meal costs £8.00.
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one-time price: statement of fact
It’s costing us a lot to eat in restaurants every
night. It’s costing us only 12p a day to eat when
we cook for ourselves! The fight against terrorism
is costing the government £3b a year.
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overall general expenditure: emphasis on price
So… What’s the difference between:
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She cares for her father.
She is caring for her father.
I trust you with my money.
I am trusting you with my money.
She wishes she had a handsome boyfriend.
She is wishing for a handsome boyfriend.
I feel your hand.
 I’m feeling your hand.
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I hear voices.
 I’m hearing voices.
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He smells nice.
 He smells.
 He’s smelling the soap I bought him.
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We have a lot of problems at the
office.
 We’re having a lot of problems at the
office.
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I think I’ll marry you.
 I’m thinking about marrying you.
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She is cruel.
 She is being cruel.
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