Some verbs are only (or mostly) used in simple tenses, and are not used in continuous tenses.

An
example of a simple tense is the present simple, or the past simple. An example of a continuous
tense is the present continuous or past continuous. These verbs are called stative, or state verbs. A
verb which isnt stative is called a dynamic verb, and is usually an action. Often stative verbs are
about liking or disliking something, or about a mental state, not about an action.

Emotion: love, hate, want, need

Possession: have, own, want, belong

Sense: see, hear, smell, seem

Thought: know, believe, remember

Examples of Stative Verbs

There are a number of different types of stative verbs. In addition to describing unchanging states, though, they all share one
major characteristic: they cannot be used in the continuous/progressive tense. This is the form of a verb that describes an
ongoing action, such as 'I am running.'
'Think,' when it refers to your opinion on something, is a stative verb. As a result, it cannot be used in the progressive form. So,
for example, you can say:
'I think tomatoes are gross.'
However, you cannot change this and say:

'I am thinking tomatoes are gross.'

Opinion Verbs
One type of stative verb is verbs that show your opinion on something, as you saw with 'think.' You would use these verbs to
describe how you feel about something, or how you perceive it. Some examples include think, know, believe, recognize, and
prefer. For example, take a look at the sentences below.
'I know my sister is there for me.'
'I believe pigs can fly if they try hard enough.'
These sentences describe unchanging states of being, not specific actions.

Possession Verbs
Verbs that describe possession are also stative verbs, as they show a current or past state of being rather than an action. Some
possession verbs include have, belong, include, and own. The sentences below help illustrate this.
'I own three bicycles.'
'Our trip included a visit to the zoo.'
One thing to note is that 'have' is only a stative verb when it describes possession, such as in 'I 'have' two dogs.' If you were to
say 'He's having breakfast,' then 'have' is actually describing an action (eating), and would fall under the dynamic verb category.

Sensory Verbs
Another situation where you need stative verbs is when describing sensory experiences. Verbs such as hear, feel, smell, seem,
and see all fall into this category. Sensory experiences are not a stop-and-start action, but a state of being. Therefore they
require stative verbs, such as in the following sentences.
'I feel really sick.'
'He seemed very upset yesterday.

Verbs of Emotion
Emotion verbs, such as love, hate, need, want, and like, are also stative verbs.
ExampleI love carrot cake.