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Stative Verbs
Stative verbs are verbs that express a state rather than an action. They usually relate to
thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being and measurements. These
verbs are not usually used with ing in progressive (continuous) tenses even though they
may take on time expressions such as now and at the moment. We use the simple
tenses for them.
1. Paul feels rotten today. He has a bad cold.
2. Do you recognize him? He is a famous rock star.
3. Our client appreciated all the work we did for him.
Incorrect: Im smelling your wifes wonderful spaghetti sauce.
Correct: I smell your wifes wonderful spaghetti sauce.
However, there are some verbs that look like they should be stative, but may appear in
the ing form. These verbs differ in meaning to the stative verbs.
Examples:
see
1. I see Michael, but he cant see me. Im too far away. (I see him with my eyes.)
2. James is seeing Marsha. Theyve been together for a month. (Hes dating her.)
hear
1. I hear music coming from the Smiths apartment. Someone must be home now. (To
experience sound)
2. Im hearing voices. (Im imagining it)
have
1. Jeremy has a Mercedes. (He owns it.)
2. Sara is having lunch with her editor. (Shes eating lunch)


http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/verbs/action-verbs/
List of Stative Verbs
adore
agree
appear (seem)
appreciate
be (exist)
believe
belong to
concern
consist of
contain
cost
deny
depend on
deserve
detest
disagree
dislike
doubt
equal
feel
hate
have (possession)
hear
imagine
include
involve
know
lack
like
loathe
look (seem)
love
matter
mean
measure
mind
need
owe
own
possess
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promise
realize
recognize
remember
resemble
satisfy
see
seem
smell
sound
suppose
surprise
taste
think (opinion)
understand
want
weigh
wish

Action Verbs
Action Verbs are verbs that express action. Ex: run, walk, do, drive.
Ill do my homework when I get home.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Most action verbs are defined as transitive or intransitive. This means that some are
used with a direct object (the person or thing that receives the action of the subject) and
others dont need a direct object. Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive
depending on their meaning.
1. Transitive Verb Joe will send the price quote as soon as he can.
2. Intransitive Verb Many of the students are not well. They coughed throughout the
lesson.


Transitive Verbs
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Transitive verbs always receive a direct object:
1. Richard annoys his boss so much that hell never get a promotion.
(His boss is the direct object of annoys and a promotion is the direct object of get)
2. Jenna brings Mrs. Smith lunch every day.
(Mrs. Smith is the direct object of brings. Jenna is the subject.
Heres a list of some common transitive verbs that must be followed by a direct object:
bring
send
owe
contain
buy
show
take
tell
verify
check
get
wash
finalize
annoy
lay
lend
offer
edit
make
phone
Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs do not need a direct object in order to complete their meaning. Many
are followed by an adjective, adverb, preposition or verb complement (gerund or
infinitive).
Here is a list of common intransitive verbs:
come
explode
laugh
sit
rise
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excel
respond
run
cough
swim
emigrate
smile
act
cry
immigrate
lie
arrive
continue
die
go
1. If Cathy continues to be late for work, the boss will fire her.
(Continues is followed by an infinitive (to be), with no direct object.)
2. The bomb exploded in the city center.
(Exploded is followed by a preposition of place with no direct object.)
Many verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on their meanings.
Examples
1. Jamie set the documents down on the CEOs desk.
(Transitive: The documents are the direct object to the verb: set.)
2. The sun set low over the Pacific Ocean.
(Intransitive: Low is an adverb. Set doesnt need a direct object.)
3. Ms. Tyson manages the accounting department.
(Transitive: The accounting department is the direct object to the verb: manage.)
4. John has had difficulty managing since his wifes death.
(Intransitive: Since is a preposition of time. Managing doesnt need a direct object)
Note: Transitive and intransitive verbs can appear in any tense.
Here is a list of several verbs that can be both transitive and intransitive depending on
their meanings:
set
leave
give
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study
sit
grow
smell
dance
sing
write
teach
burn
eat
paint
drive
manage
stop
climb
run
check
cost
go
pay
improve
Exercises Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Decide whether the following verbs are transitive, intransitive or both:
1. The workmen have been painting for hours. ________________
2. When they call from the charity, Mrs. Alpert always gives generously. __________
3. Before you send the proposal, make sure you edit it carefully. ____________
4. That perfume smells nice. __________________
5. My new car cost me a small fortune. _________________
6. Jim owed his landlord $450. _____________
7. Pete emigrated from Australia in 1998. _________________
8. The customer was tired of waiting, so he got up and left._____________
9. Are you sure you want to paint the ceiling too? _____________________
10. Please take the documents over to Mrs. Samuels office. _____________
Answers:
1. intransitive
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2. intransitive
3. transitive
4. intransitive
5. transitive
6. transitive
7. intransitive
8. intransitive
9. transitive
10. transitive

Confusing Verbs
There are many verbs that sound similar and its easy to get confused between them.
Here is a list of some of the most common confusing verb pairs, their meanings and
examples of how they should be used in a sentence.
Verb Meaning/ Use The Verb in Context
borrow To take a loan
Can I borrow $20 from you
please?
lend To give a loan I will lend you $20.
say
1. To report someones words
2. To ask about how to use a
language
1. Did she say anything about
me?
2. How do you say hello in
Spanish?
tell
1. To instruct
2. To narrate
1. Tell him to stop the car.
2. Hes telling a good joke.
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Verb Meaning/ Use The Verb in Context
do To carry out activities or tasks He needs to do his homework.
make
1. To cause to happen
2. To create or build something
1. Dont make him angry.
2. Dont forget to make a list.
can
1. To show ability
2. To request (informal)
1. I can contact the company if
you would like me to.
2. Can I help you?
may
1. To express a possibility
2. To request (polite)
1. I may see you later at the party.
2. May I help you?
meet
1. To come into contact with
someone
2. To be introduced to
someone
3. To arrange to see someone
1. He met her for the first time
yesterday.
2. I will meet you in front of the
main building.
know
1. To be familiar with someone
2. To understand a fact or truth
1. Ive known Sheila for a long
time.
2. He knows a lot about
geography.
waste
To fail to use something
valuable in an effective way
1. Dont waste your time watching
too much TV.
2. Dont waste water! We dont
have enough of it.
spend
1. To pay out
2. To pass time
1. I spent a lot of money at the
shop yesterday.
2. He spends much of his time at
the beach.
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Verb Meaning/ Use The Verb in Context
lie
1. To recline or to rest
2. To not tell the truth
1. The cat lies in the sun most of
the day.
2. The documents are lying on the
table now.
3. He lay on his bed in pain last
night.
4. He lied to me about the money
hed spent.
lay To put, place or set down
1. He lays his keys on the counter
every day.
2. He laid the mail on the table
when he came in.
bring
To carry towards someone or
somewhere
He brings me flowers every week.
take
To carry away from someone or
somewhere
He always takes his brother to
hockey games.
adopt To take or claim as ones own
They adopted a child from Vietnam
last year.
adapt
1. To get used to
2. To change
1. John adapted to the weather in
the East quite quickly.
2. That company adapts and
resells the ideas of others.
rise
1. To get up
2. To go up
1. He rises at 5:00 every morning
2. Gas prices are steadily rising.
raise to make higher The government is raising the
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Verb Meaning/ Use The Verb in Context
price of fuel.
emigrate To leave a country
Joshua emigrated from the UK in
2001.
immigrate To move to another country
She immigrated to Canada in
2002.
Exercises Confusing verbs
Choose the correct word from the parenthesis at the end of the sentence as in the
example.
1. As a child, I spent each summer in France with my grandmother. (spent/wasted)
1. I have already ____ to the customs in this new country I live in. (adapted / adopted)
2. Ed ______ Suzanne at a singles party last month. (met / knew)
3. The girls ____ money from their father to buy their mom a gift. (lent / borrowed)
4. My father _______ the American flag on all US holidays. (raises / rises)
5. Hes ________ down because he doesnt feel well. (laying / lying)
6. Cho left China and _______ to Australia in 1998. (emigrated / immigrated)
7. I dont know how to do it, but Im sure the service department ________ help you.
(can / may)
8. I hope you will _______ your job well. (make / do)
9. Anna parties every night. It has started _______ her work. (effecting / affecting)
10. Please turn off the lights. We dont like to _____ energy. (spend / waste)
Answers:
1. adapted
2. met
3. borrowed
4. raises
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5. lying
6. immigrated
7. can
8. do
9. affecting
10. waste