Stative verbs usually describe states (not actions) and they are not used in continuous tenses (like the present continuous, or the future continuous).
These verbs can express:
- Possession: belong to, have, own, possess
This pen belongs to my brother.
They have 2 beautiful kids.
I own a house and an apartment in Florida.
My parents possess an expensive car.
- Sense: feel, hear, see, smell, taste
My son feels sick.
My uncle doesn’t hear well at this age.
It’s so dark in this room, I barely see you!
It smells wonderful, what are you cooking?
This tea tastes delicious.
- Emotions: care, desire, like, dislike, detest, adore, love, hate
I care a lot about my parents.
We all desire a better world.
I like green colour more than red one.
He dislikes rock music.
I detest spicy food.
I adore him, he is a very good friend.
Mary loves cakes with strawberries.
Jane hates dogs.
- Mental activities: agree, believe, realise, think, remember, hope, suppose, want, know
Katty always agrees with my ideas.
She believes his husband no matter what.
I realised things are not like they seem to be.
I think this pizza is delicious.
I hope I’ll see you again.
I remember all the good moments of my childhood.
I suppose things will get better.
- Quantity: cost, weigh
This magazine costs only $5.
How much does the bag weigh?
- Other verbs: be, need, seem, appear
He is Tom, my brother.
He needs my help.
It seems that it will rain.
She appears to be happy with her new car.
Some verbs can be both stative and action verbs:
- Appear
She appears to be sad. (stative)
She is appearing on this stage tomorrow. = performing
- Be
Tom is very clever. = it’s part of personality (stative)
Tom is being mean with his collegues. = only now, a temporary action (dynamic)
- Think
I think that tea is delicious = have an opinion about something / someone (stative)
What are you thinking about me? = consider (dynamic)
- Have
She has 2 cars. = own (stative)
She is having dinner with friends. = action (dynamic)
- See
I see him now, he is coming along the road. = see with your eyes / understand (stative)
I’ve been seeing Paul for three years. = meet / have a relationship with (dynamic)
- Taste
This coffee tastes so good! = has a certain taste (stative)
The chef is tasting the food before serving it. = the action of tasting (dynamic)
- Smell
Your perfume smells as vanilla. = has a certain smell (stative)
He is smelling his food. = the action of smelling (dynamic)