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CEFR A2

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Test yourself (28 questions)

Stative verbs in English: I know, not I'm knowing (list)

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 11 October 2026

Stative verbs name a state, not an action: know, want, like, own. They normally stay in the simple form, even for right now: I know the answer. (not I'm knowing). A few verbs have two jobs, and change meaning with -ing.

Quick check

Three quick questions on what you have just read. The full practice is further down.

Pick the right one

0/3

Pick the right form.

  1. I the answer.

  2. Sam a new phone.

  3. Be quiet! I a call.

The chart: stative verbs by group

Most stative verbs fall into five groups. Learn the groups, and the verbs follow.

GroupVerbsExample
, , , I know his name.
, , What does it mean?
, , , She loves this song.
, , , We need a new car.
, , This bag belongs to me.
, ()I hear music.
, You seem tired.

Each one is a state: nothing is moving or happening, so there is nothing "in progress" for -ing to show.

  • I understand. (it is clear to me, not I'm understanding)
  • He seems happy. (that is how he looks to me)
  • Do you remember her? (is she in your memory?)

The test: what are you doing?

Ask the question What are you doing? An action verb can answer it. A stative verb cannot.

AnswerWorks?Why
I'm eating.
I'm writing.
I'm knowing.
I'm wanting tea.

So even for this exact moment, a state stays simple:

  • I want a coffee now. (not I'm wanting)
  • She doesn't understand the question. (right now, but a state)

Verbs with two jobs: have, think, see

A few verbs can be a state or an action. As an action they take -ing, and the meaning changes. The colour shows which job each sentence does.

action (-ing is fine)state (simple only)What do the colours mean?
VerbActionState
. .
. .
Tom . .
. .
. .

What each one means:

  • : is eating; is owning.
  • : is deciding; is my opinion.
  • : Tom is a plan to meet; is what my eyes notice.
  • : is testing the food; is its flavour.
  • : . is how he acts now; . is what he is like.

Have as an action is very common: having a shower, having a party, having a good time (things you do, so -ing is fine).

I'm loving it: the informal exception

Spoken English bends the rule for strong feelings about right now:

  • I'm loving this weather! (I really enjoy it, today)
  • How are you liking the new job? (so far, do you like it?)

This is normal, friendly speech, and advertising made I'm loving it famous. In writing and in exams, stay safe with the simple form: I love it.

Common mistakes

WrongRightWhy
I'm knowing him.I know him. .
I'm wanting a tea.I want a tea. .
I'm needing help.I need help. .
I'm owning a car.I own a car. .
I have lunch now.I'm having lunch. .

The last one goes the other way. When have means eating, drinking or doing, it is an action, and the continuous is right for now: Sorry, I'm having a shower! (at this moment).

What to do next

  1. Do the drills below: the sort, then Ana's lunch.
  2. Then go back to the present continuous and the present simple, where these verbs decide the tense.

Practise: test yourself

Sort into groups

0/8

A state or an action? Sort each verb.

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Pick the right one

0/6

Pick the right form.

  1. I the answer.

  2. Sam a new phone.

  3. Be quiet! I a call.

  4. This car to my father.

  5. We dinner. Call back later.

  6. I you're right.

Complete the story

0/5

Choose the right form for each gap.

Ana's lunch

Ana lunch with Tom right now. She the food is good. Right now Tom about a new job. He the answer yet, so he to talk about it.

Gap 1 of 5

Spot the mistake

0/4

Each sentence has one mistake. Tap it.

Matching

0/5

Match each sentence to what it means.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a stative verb?
A verb for a state, not an action: something you know, feel, want, own or notice. Know, like, want and own are stative. Because nothing is happening, there is nothing in progress, so they do not usually take -ing: I know him, not I'm knowing him.
How do I know if a verb is stative?
Ask: could it answer What are you doing? I'm eating works, so eat is an action. I'm knowing does not, so know is a state. The test is not perfect, but it sorts the common verbs.
Can stative verbs ever be continuous?
Some can, when they change meaning. I'm having lunch means eating, an action; I have a car means owning, a state. I'm thinking about it means deciding; I think so is an opinion.
Is I'm loving it correct?
It is common, informal English, for a strong feeling about something right now: I'm loving this weather. It is common in speech and advertising. In careful writing, and in exams, use the simple form: I love it.
Is it I'm wanting or I want?
I want. Want is a state, so it stays simple: I want a coffee. You may hear I was wanting to ask you something, a soft, polite way to make a request, but for now, use I want or I'd like.