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Stative and Dynamic Vbs Pres
Stative and Dynamic Vbs Pres
Stative and Dynamic Vbs Pres
1. Distinctions
2. Dynamic verbs
3. Stative verbs
4. Classifications
5. When are statives not statives?
6. Special cases
7. Verbs and other categories
8. References
Ú NAMIC - STATIVE
PROGRESSIVE - NONPROGRESSIVE
± Distinctions between verbs can be made in terms of whether they admit the
aspectual contrast of ¶@ · and ¶@ ·
± When verbs will not admit the progressive, as in (1), (2), (3), (4) they are called
stative. When they admit it, as in (5), (6), (7), (8) they are called dynamic.
4 (1) He is tall. (5)*He is being tall.
4 (2) He `esembles his mother. (6)*He is `esembling his mother.
4 (3) I nt spaghetti. (7)*I m nting spaghetti for dinner.
4 (4) It belongs to me. (8)*It is belonging to me.
± have duration, that is, they occur over a limited time, which
may or may not have a defined endpoint, and may or may not
yet have occurred.
These distinctions lead to various forms related to tense and
spect. For example, a dynamic verb may be said to have:
4 m @
if there is not a defined endpoint, or
4 @
@
if there is a defined endpoint.
´ h
´
´
ü durative
ü punctual
h
± states of ¶being· and ¶having·: be, cont in,
depend, h e, `esemble
´ h
ü activity verbs
ü process verbs
ü verbs of bodily sensation
ü transitional events verbs
ü momentary verbs
´
ü verbs of inert perception
and cognition
ü relational verbs
±
- Some may be virtually identical in meaning to simple tense
forms
4 I am begging you. I beg you.
4 I was learning French. I learned French.
4 They will be playing upstairs. They will play upstairs.
m @
@
m @
m
± u
- Some may be virtually identical in meaning to
simple tense forms
m
@m @
m
@
m @
m m
m
m
@
@
@ @
m @
± u
@ m
m
4 I detest rice with curry. *I am detesting rice with curry.
4 I prefer cinnamon toast. *I am preferring cinnamon toast.
@@
m @
m@m
m
m
ã Ar Stativ Vrbs Not Stativ
± Some verbs which are generally stative may be used in the
progressive form if they:
h stress the immediacy of the action or the process of
enjoying/hating/understanding
4 lI am not hearing this!µ
4 AI am wishing I had gone to the party.µ
4 AI am feeling pleased with my job.µ
4 ADo you like the film? ~ I am LOVING this movie!µ