Verb FormsCAdvanced

Stative Verbs

Avoiding Common Stative Errors

The most common errors with stative verbs occur with "want", "need", "love/hate", "know", "have" (possession), "cost", "weigh". Never say "I am wanting to go" — say "I want to go." Never say "It is costing a lot" for a permanent price — say "It costs a lot." These verbs describe permanent or semi-permanent states, not changing actions.

Avoiding Common Stative Errors

The most common errors with stative verbs occur with "want", "need", "love/hate", "know", "have" (possession), "cost", "weigh". Never say "I am wanting to go" — say "I want to go." Never say "It is costing a lot" for a permanent price — say "It costs a lot." These verbs describe permanent or semi-permanent states, not changing actions.

Practice

Which sentence is CORRECT?

How muchthis weigh? I need to know for the shipping.

Put the words in the correct order:

Click words from the bank to place them here

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Stative vs. Dynamic Uses