Stative vs. Dynamic: как использовать в английском? Примеры для практики

Вряд ли, общаясь на родном языке, вам приходится думать о том, что существуют одни глаголы для обозначения деятельности, движения, другие – для обозначения бытия во времени и пространстве; что отдельную категорию составляют глаголы, обозначающие психические и эмоциональные состояния человека. Такими вопросами задаются разве что филологи, и то только при написании научных работ. Для людей, которые используют язык на интуитивном уровне, такие слова как “танцевать”, “любить”, “переживать” различаются только по значению, но точно не по принадлежности к той или иной лексико-семантической группы. Возможно, поэтому молодой человек из офиса на Грушевского, которого я встретила на днях, не понял разница между такими применениями глагола THINK:

Ведь в украинском языке разница между «Я думаю, он – гей» и «Я думаю над решением данной проблемы» грамматически никак не сказывается, и почувствовать ее можно, только проведя детальный анализ двух употреблений одного глагола «думать». В первом случае он употребляется для обозначения человеческого отношения к определенной действительности и может быть заменено словом «считать», во втором же – отражает психический процесс человека, который имеет свое начало и конец.

What about English? Its verbs are classified into two categories: DYNAMIC (ACTION) VERBS and STATIVE VERBS.

Dynamic verbs describe activities, events and actions that can begin and finish. Dynamic verbs CAN BE used in continuous tenses. These include ones like kick, take, do.

Stative verbs refer to a state or condition that is static or unchanging. To name a few - have, be, know, believe. These verbs CANNOT BE normally used with continuous tenses. This is because the continuous form suggests something is temporary and of limited duration, usually happening at a specific time, for example: "At the moment, I am working on a computer." However, a state is something which has a feeling of permanence or unlimited duration. For example: "The sun is the source of energy."

So, we say 'I know my Father', not 'I am knowing my father', because the relationship feels permanent, and it is a state of knowledge not an activity. You either know your father or you don't. To know or not to know, that is the example.

There are 2 helpful things which can help you to distinguish between the stative and the active form of a verb.

1. Stative verbs aren’t used as imperatives (приказы).

So we can tell somebody: “Run!”, but it would be unusual to hear something like “Know the answer!”

2. If you cannot force (вынудить, заставить) the action, then it is stative.

My cat is forced to weigh 10 pounds.

The candy bar is forced to cost $1.20.

The trip is forced to take 7 hours.

These sentences are nonsense because the actions (to weigh/to cost/to take) cannot be forced!

However, in this example…

I forced my cat to take the antibiotics.

…you see that the action of taking antibiotics was forced (and I have the scratch marks to prove it)!

But two areas are still confusing for English language learners. The first is that some words can be used in progressive forms and in stative forms. For example, “I have a car.” I can’t say, “I’m having a car.” But I can say, “I’m having a party tonight.” Different meanings.

The next thing that is confusing is that many times even though a verb is stative, some native speakers will use it in the progressive. For example, “realize” is supposed to be a stative verb, but many people may say, “I’m realizing how much she means to me.” And it makes perfect sense. Then there is the McDonald’s commercial that says, “I’m lovin’ it.” Ugh! “Love” is a stative verb!

Interestingly, the word “stative” is not recognized by MS Word and most native-English speakers do not know this word, but they intuitively know the concept. As with most of the English language, I suppose.

Now, let’s take a close look at the groups of stative verbs and how they can change their meaning with continuous tenses.

Stative Verbs are generally divided into three categories :

· relational verbs

· perception verbs

· cognition verbs

Relational verbs (Относительные глаголы) are verbs that almost never take continuous forms.

We say: It belongs to me. not It is belonging to me. Or I deserve. not I am deserving it.

HERE IS A LIST OF RELATIONAL VERBS:

belong to
concern
consist of
contain
cost

depend on
deserve
equal
fit
have
include

involve
lack
matter
need
owe
own

possess
require
resemble
seem
sound

Perception Verbs (Глаголы для обозначения ощущений) are verbs that can form a continuous form but with the change in the regular meaning.

Here is a list and a detailed description of the perception verbs:

SMELL

Simple form: These roses smell wonderful. (They have a certain smell. It’s part of their state, existence. You can’t order them to smell differently.)

Continuous form: She is smelling the roses. (It’s a voluntary action which has certain duration and which can be forced).

The same is with TASTE.

TASTE

Simple form: This soup tastes great.

Continuous form: She is tasting the soup.

SEE has also different meaning when used with continuous tenses:

Example	Form	Meaning
I see	Simple Present	I understand
I see him now	Simple Present	I see him with my eyses
I am seeing images	Present Continuous	Mental illness
I am seeing my dentist tonight	Present Continuous	Appointment
She has been seeing him for 3 months	Present Continuous	Dating

HEAR

Simple form: I hear you now. (You don't need to shout.) - The simple form means I hear you with my ears. (I'm perceiving).

Continuous form: I am hearing some voices. - The continuous form means a mental illness.

Cognition Verbs (Глаголы для обозначения познания и восприятия) are verbs that may not form a continuous tense at all or when they are used in a continuous form their regular meaning changes.

adore
astonish
believe
desire
detest
disklike

doubt
forgive
hate
imagine
impress
intend

know
like
love
mean
mind
percieve

please
prefer
realize
recall
recognize
regard
satisfy
suppose
understand

Here is a list of cognition verbs that form a continuous form with a change in meaning:

FEEL

Example	Form	Meaning
I am not feeling well	Continuous	Healthy/unhealthy
I feel good	Simple Present	Expresses a mood
I am feeling the fabric	Present Continuous	I'm touching it
It feels soft	Simple Present	It is soft

THINK

Example	Form	Meaning
I think it's a good idea	Simple Present	Opinion
I am thinking about the exam	Present Continuous	Mental process

HAVE

Example	Form	Meaning
I have a car	Simple Present	Possession
I am having a good time	Present Continuous	Not a possession

Other verbs which have different meaning when used in continuous form are:

weigh - Action: The butcher is weighing the meat now. State: This meat weighs six kilograms.

fit - Action: This dress fits me very well. State: The carpet layers are fitting the new carpet downstairs (meaning installing or putting together).

look - Action: Why are you looking at me like this? State: She looks really great today. (She has a certain look).

be - is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous it means ‘behaving’ or ‘acting’

State: You are stupid = it’s part of your personality.

Action: You are being stupid = only now, not usually.

TASK.

In the following McDonald's commercial you’ll find usages of both Stative and Dynamic verbs. Please, watch it and write them down. Then explain why they are stative or dynamic. Pay attention to the verbs THINK and LOOK. Good luck!

Английская грамматика: Stative vs. Dynamic