Stative and Dynamic Verbs Exercises With Answers

Stative and Dynamic Verbs Exercises With Answers

Looking for stative and dynamic verbs exercises with answers?

This page provides clear explanations and interactive grammar practice to help you understand the difference between stative (state) verbs and dynamic (action) verbs. You’ll find multiple-choice exercises, verb form practice, and error correction activities — all with answer keys.

These exercises are ideal for ESL/EFL learners preparing for exams or improving their English grammar skills.

Before starting the activities, review the short explanation below.

What Are Stative and Dynamic Verbs?

1. Stative Verbs (State Verbs)

Stative verbs describe:

  • Feelings (love, hate, prefer)
  • Thoughts and opinions (believe, know, understand)
  • Possession (own, have, belong)
  • Senses (see, hear, smell, taste)
  • States of being (seem, appear)

🔎 Important rule:
Stative verbs are not usually used in continuous (progressive) tenses.

  • ❌ I am knowing the answer.
  • ✅ I know the answer.

2. Dynamic Verbs (Action Verbs)

Dynamic verbs describe actions and activities:

  • run, eat, work, play, design, study

These verbs are commonly used in continuous forms:

✔ She is working.
✔ They are designing a robot.

⚠ Some Verbs Can Be Both

Some verbs change meaning depending on how they are used:

  • I think he is right. (opinion → stative)
  • I am thinking about moving. (considering → dynamic)
  • The soup tastes good. (state → stative)
  • She is tasting the soup. (action → dynamic)

Grammar Exercise – Stative and Dynamic Verbs Exercises With Answers

Do the exercises below on stative and dynamic verbs and click the button to check your answers.

(Before doing the exercises, you may want to read the lesson on dynamic and stative verbs )

Exercise 1 – Correct or Incorrect?

Choose the correct answer.

  1. Are they having a good time?
  2. I am thinking you are a nice person.
  3. It is tasting good
  4. You are looking great
  5. He's been working since this morning
  6. He's having a huge house
  7. The food tastes good
  8. They are looking at the photo album
  9. They are designing a robot
  10. She is liking him very much

More Exercises on Stative vs Dynamic Verbs

Exercise 2 – Choose the Correct Form (Simple or Continuous)

Choose the correct verb form.

  1. I (believe / am believing) you.
  2. She (is studying / studies) for her exam right now.
  3. This cake (tastes / is tasting) delicious.
  4. They (own / are owning) a small restaurant.
  5. We (are watching / watch) a movie at the moment.
  6. I (understand / am understanding) the lesson now.
  7. He (is thinking / thinks) about changing jobs.
  8. She (is having / has) two brothers.
  9. The baby (is sleeping / sleeps) now.
  10. I (prefer / am preferring) coffee to tea.
1. I believe you.
2. She is studying for her exam right now.
3. This cake tastes delicious.
4. They own a small restaurant.
5. We are watching a movie at the moment.
6. I understand the lesson now.
7. He is thinking about changing jobs.
8. She has two brothers.
9. The baby is sleeping now.
10. I prefer coffee to tea.

Exercise 3 – Correct the Mistake (Stative Vs Dynamic Verbs)

Each sentence contains a mistake. Rewrite it correctly.

  1. I am knowing the answer.
  2. She is wanting a new phone.
  3. They are owning a big house.
  4. He is seeming tired.
  5. We are liking this movie.
  6. I am believing you.
  7. She is having a car.
  8. The soup is tasting good.
  9. He is understanding the problem.
  10. I am remembering your name.
1. I know the answer.
2. She wants a new phone.
3. They own a big house.
4. He seems tired.
5. We like this movie.
6. I believe you.
7. She has a car.
8. The soup tastes good.
9. He understands the problem.
10. I remember your name.

Common Stative Verbs List

Here are common stative verbs grouped by category:

  • Verbs of Feeling:
    • love, hate, prefer, like, dislike
  • Verbs of Thinking:
    • believe, know, understand, remember, think (opinion)
  • Verbs of Possession:
    • have, own, belong, possess
  • Verbs of Senses:
    • see, hear, smell, taste

Learning these verbs will help you avoid common grammar mistakes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between stative and dynamic verbs?

Stative verbs describe states, feelings, opinions, possession, or senses and are not usually used in continuous tenses.
Dynamic verbs describe actions and can be used in continuous forms.
Example:
✔ She knows the answer. (stative)
✔ She is studying now. (dynamic)

Can stative verbs be used in continuous form?

Sometimes yes, but the meaning changes.
Example:
– I think he is right. (opinion → stative)
– I am thinking about your offer. (considering → dynamic)
– The food tastes good. (state)
– The chef is tasting the food. (action)

Why can’t we say “I am knowing”?

Because “know” is a stative verb. It describes a mental state, not an action. Stative verbs are generally not used in progressive forms.

Are stative verbs important for exams?

Yes. Many English exams test the difference between stative and dynamic verbs, especially in multiple-choice and error correction exercises.

Tags: Exercises on Parts of SpeechExercises on Verbs
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