Stative verbs describe states, feelings, thoughts, and possessions rather than actions you can see or measure. They tell us what something is, what someone feels, or what someone thinks, instead of what they are doing. For example, “She knows the answer” or “They own a car.” These verbs are common in everyday English and are often used in simple tenses rather than continuous forms (we usually say “I love music,” not “I am loving music”). On this page, you’ll find a clear list of stative verbs plus sentence examples to help you use them correctly.
- adore – I adore quiet mornings with coffee.
- forgive – She forgives her friends easily.
- possess – The company possesses valuable data.
- agree – We agree on most of the rules.
- hate – I hate cold, rainy weather.
- prefer – They prefer quiet restaurants.
- appear (seem) – He appears very confident today.
- have (possession) – She has three dogs and a cat.
- promise – I promise I will support you.
- appreciate – I really appreciate your honesty.
- hear – She hears a strange noise outside.
- realize – They realize the danger now.
- astonish – His piano skills astonish everyone.
- hope – I hope you feel better soon.
- recognize – I recognize that song from yesterday.
- be – She is always very patient.
- imagine – I imagine the exam will be difficult.
- refuse – He refuses any further help.
- believe – I believe every word you say.
- impress – Her dedication impresses her manager.
- remember – I remember that holiday clearly.
- belong – This book belongs to my sister.
- include – The price includes breakfast and Wi-Fi.
- resemble – The baby resembles her father.
- concern – This problem concerns all of us.
- involve – The job involves long hours.
- satisfy – This solution satisfies our needs.
- consist – The team consists of five engineers.
- know – I know the correct answer.
- see – I see your point clearly.
- contain – The box contains important documents.
- lack – They lack experience in marketing.
- seem – It seems impossible to finish today.
- cost – The jacket costs fifty dollars.
- like – I like this new teacher.
- smell – The flowers smell wonderful.
- deny – He denies the accusation completely.
- loathe – She loathes early morning meetings.
- sound – That idea sounds interesting.
- depend – Success depends on hard work.
- look (= seem) – You look very happy today.
- suppose – I suppose he is at home.
- deserve – She deserves a promotion.
- love – They love their new house.
- surprise – His decision surprises everyone.
- detest – I detest rude behaviour.
- matter – It doesn’t matter anymore.
- taste – This soup tastes too salty.
- disagree – I disagree with your opinion.
- mean – This sign means “no parking.”
- think (= have an opinion) – I think this plan is sensible.
- dislike – She dislikes loud music.
- measure ( length, etc) – The room measures six metres.
- trust – I trust your judgment completely.
- doubt – They doubt his explanation.
- mind – I don’t mind the noise.
- understand – We understand your concerns.
- equal – Two plus two equals four.
- need – I need more time.
- want – She wants a new laptop.
- expect – They expect good news soon.
- notice – I notice a change in her attitude.
- weigh – The suitcase weighs twenty kilos.
- feel (= have an opinion) – I feel this rule is unfair.
- owe – I owe you an apology.
- wish – I wish you every success.
- fit – These shoes fit me perfectly.
- own – They own several restaurants.
- forget – I forget his name sometimes.
- please – Your answer pleases the teacher.
