Stative verbs describe states (feelings, thoughts, possession, senses), not actions. That’s why we normally don’t use them in continuous tenses: I know the answer, not I’m knowing. But several common verbs have two meanings, and one of them can be continuous. Check the table, then practise with the exercises below.
| Group | Common stative verbs |
|---|---|
| Feelings & wants | like, love, hate, want, need, prefer, mind, trust |
| Thinking | know, believe, understand, remember, recognise, realise, agree, mean, suppose |
| Possession | have (= own), own, belong, possess |
| Senses & appearance | see, hear, smell, taste, sound, seem, look (= seem), appear (= seem) |
| Measurement & other | cost, weigh, measure, contain, consist of, depend, include |
Stative verbs exercises
Four sets of 20 questions: the basic stative verbs (A2–B1), verbs with two meanings and be being (B1–B2), stative verbs in perfect and past tenses (B2–C1), and an At work set. Prefer to check everything at the end? Switch to Exam mode.
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This bag to my sister.
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I a new phone. Mine is broken.
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We (not / believe) his story.
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Do you my name?
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This soup delicious!
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I (prefer) tea to coffee.
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you hear that noise?
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He the answer.
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They (own) two restaurants in the city.
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I that man. He’s my neighbour.
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My sister horror films.
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This coat (cost) €200.
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Your perfume lovely.
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This box old photos.
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Do you (want) something to drink?
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It like it’s going to rain.
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I you. You’re my best friend.
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That (sound) like a great idea!
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Does this laptop to you?
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I she’s from Spain, but I’m not sure.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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I about changing my job.
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What of my new haircut?
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We (have) a great time at the moment!
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She a beautiful garden.
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I my lawyer tomorrow morning.
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I (see) a lot of birds in the garden right now.
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The chef the sauce to check the salt.
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The doctor the baby. It’s 4 kilos.
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The baby (weigh) 4 kilos.
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“Why the flowers?” “They smell amazing!”
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You silly. Stop it!
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He’s usually very polite, but today he rude.
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I (expect) you’re tired after your trip. (I suppose)
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We a baby in June!
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This dress perfect on you.
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Why at me like that?
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I (feel) that we should wait. (opinion)
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I much better today, thanks.
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My back . I think I need to see a doctor.
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This bag a lot. What’s in it?
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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I him for ten years.
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She the answer, but she didn’t say anything.
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How long (you / have) this car?
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I of moving to Spain for a while, and now I’ve decided.
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When I was a child, I in ghosts.
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I (always / want) to visit Japan.
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The book of ten short stories.
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It that she has left the company.
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She in a new musical at the moment.
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We (measure) the room for the new carpet. Can you hold this?
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The room 5 metres by 4.
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Sorry, I what you said. Could you repeat it?
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I’m every minute of this holiday!
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I (mind) if you open the window. (I don’t)
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The house to my grandparents until 1990.
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I’m sorry, I you were busy.
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This cake (taste) even better than it looks!
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We dinner when the phone rang.
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Are you to what I’m saying?
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I can music coming from next door.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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I with your proposal completely.
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We more staff for the new project.
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This report (contain) some confidential information.
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The manager the candidates this afternoon.
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I what you’re saying, but I don’t agree.
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Our company (own) three factories in Asia.
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We a meeting right now. Can I call you back?
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That like a reasonable price.
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How long (you / know) about the problem?
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The project on the client’s approval.
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I about applying for the manager’s job.
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I the new system is much better.
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Our new office (seem) much bigger than the old one.
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Sorry, I your name. Could you say it again?
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We a lot of interest in our new product at the moment.
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I (not / recognise) this number. Who is it?
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The contract to the old company, not to us.
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I that the deadline is too tight.
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We (expect) a delivery this morning.
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The CEO very busy today. She has back-to-back meetings.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
Verbs with two meanings
| Verb | State (simple) | Action (continuous OK) |
|---|---|---|
| think | I think it’s great. (opinion) | I’m thinking about it. (considering) |
| have | She has a car. (own) | We’re having lunch / a meeting. |
| see | I see what you mean. (understand) | I’m seeing the doctor at 3. (meet) |
| taste / smell | It tastes good. (quality) | He’s tasting the sauce. (trying) |
| weigh / measure | It weighs 4 kg. | She’s weighing the baby. |
| expect | I expect you’re tired. (suppose) | We’re expecting a baby / a delivery. |
| be | He is rude. (character) | He’s being rude today. (behaviour now) |
Common mistakes
- ❌ I’m needing your help. → ✅ I need your help.
- ❌ I’ve been knowing her for years. → ✅ I’ve known her for years.
- ❌ This book is belonging to me. → ✅ This book belongs to me.
- ❌ I’m hearing music. → ✅ I can hear music.
FAQ
Is “I’m loving it” wrong?
It’s informal, not wrong. In conversation, people sometimes use love, like or hate in the continuous to emphasise a feeling right now: I’m loving this holiday! In exams and formal writing, use the simple form: I love this holiday.
Why can I say both “I feel” and “I’m feeling”?
For physical and emotional states, feel, hurt and ache work in both forms with almost no difference: I feel / I’m feeling better. My back hurts / is hurting. But when feel means think, it’s stative: I feel that we should wait.
How do I say “now” with a stative verb?
Just use the present simple. It already covers the present moment: I know the answer now. With see and hear, add can: I can see the sea from here. For more practice, try our present simple vs present continuous exercises.