3. Paco likes his new suit

Stative verbs

By Daniel Lobo. C. Commons

By Paul Goyette. C. Commons

Have a look at this sentence: Paco is willing to buy a smart suit.

Here, "willing" is not a modal verb. It is the present participle of the transitive verb to will, which here means to desire. As you know, other modal verbs are: must, can, would, should, will (future), etc.

Can we use modal verbs in continuous or progressive tenses?

STATIVE vs. DYNAMIC VERBS

Apart from modal verbs, there are other verbs which are not normally used in continuous or progressive tenses. They are known as stative verbs, state verbs, or even non-progressive verbs, in contrast with dynamic verbs (often referred to as action verbs), which can be used in continuous or progressive tenses. Click here to understand the difference between stative and dynamic verbs in English. As you'll see, some stative verbs can also be dynamic depending on the sense in the sentences (e.g. to have = to possess - stative; to have = to eat or drink - dynamic).

So, stative verbs usually describe a state or a condition rather than an action. Now, have a look at the presentation on the right to learn different stative verbs which cannot be used in the present continuous or in any other progressive tense.

Listening Activity

Stative verbs appear in bold type:

First, when there's nothing but a slow glowing dream
That your fear seems to hide deep inside your mind
All alone I have cried silent tears full of pride
In a world made of steel, made of stone

Well I hear the music, close my eyes, feel the rhythm
Wrap around, take a hold of my heart

[Chorus:]
What a feeling, bein's believin'
I can't have it all, now I'm dancin' for my life
Take your passion, and make it happen
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life

[Solo]

Now I hear the music, close my eyes, I am rhythm
In a flash it takes hold of my heart

[chorus (with ... "now I'm dancing through my life")]

What a feeling

What a feeling (I am music now), bein's believin' (I am rhythm now)
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life
What a feeling (I can really have it all)
What a feeling (Pictures come alive when I call)
I can have it all (I can really have it all)
Have it all (Pictures come alive when I call)
(call, call, call, call, what a feeling) I can have it all
(Bein's believin') bein's believin'
(Take your passion, make it happen) make it happen
(What a feeling) what a feeling...

Can you guess them?

Important!

Remember that there are verbs which may be stative or dynamic depending on the sense in the sentences. Have a look at this web site, watch the video and read the information provided. Then, do this exercise (don't forget to check your answers).

It is important that you perfectly distinguish the Present Continuous tense from the Simple Present. In the following section we are going to compare their uses. Let's go and study it!

	At this moment, Paco doesn't belong to any tennis club.
	At this moment, Paco isn't belonging to any tennis club.

	Paco has a sandwich and a coke now.
	Paco is having a sandwich and a coke now.

	Where is Andrés? - He's tasting the cake his mother has made.
	Where is Andrés? He tastes the cake his mother has made.

	Paco is wearing a new suit.
	Paco wears a new suit.

	Sonia is seeming worried!
	Sonia seems worried!