Introduction — 10 min
Write “She has a beautiful voice.” on the board and ask students what they notice about has. Introduce stative verbs as verbs that describe states or conditions rather than actions.
Vocabulary lesson plan & materials
Free Time and Hobbies
Part 10 — Stative Verbs · B1–B2. Grammar, reading, speaking and writing practice through hobbies, flowers, feelings, possession and the senses.
Lesson Plan
Objective: identify and use stative verbs, understand their role in English grammar, and distinguish stative from dynamic uses.
Explanation — 15 min
Explain that stative verbs commonly describe possession, emotions, senses, thoughts and other non-action situations. Contrast them with dynamic verbs and discuss continuous forms.
Reading Activity — 15 min
Read “Mary’s Garden”, identify stative verbs in context and answer the comprehension questions.
Practice — 15 min
Complete the worksheets and review the answers as a class, paying attention to verbs that can be stative or dynamic depending on meaning.
Conclusion — 5 min
Review the distinction between stative and dynamic verbs and encourage students to notice these verbs in everyday English.
Optional Dialogues / Role-Play — 15 min
Pairs or small groups perform the dialogue cards and then create their own short scenario using stative verbs naturally.
Materials
- Whiteboard and markers or a digital whiteboard
- Reading passage
- Worksheets
- Dialogue cards (optional)
Stative Verbs
States, feelings, possession, thoughts and senses.
What they describe
Stative verbs describe a state or condition rather than an action. They often refer to emotions, possession, thoughts, knowledge, senses or appearance.
Continuous forms
I know the answer. ✓
I am knowing the answer. ✗
I am knowing the answer. ✗
Stative verbs are not usually used in progressive forms when they express a state.
Meaning can change
I think you are right.
I am thinking about my holiday.
I am thinking about my holiday.
Some verbs can be stative in one meaning and dynamic in another.
Compare: The cake smells delicious (state / perception) and He is smelling the food (deliberate action).
Common Stative Verbs
Feelings & Preferences
- love
- like
- hate
- prefer
- want
- need
- enjoy
Thoughts & Knowledge
- know
- understand
- believe
- remember
- think
- seem
Possession
- have
- have got
- own
- belong
Senses & Appearance
- feel
- see
- hear
- smell
- taste
- look
Reading Passage
Mary’s Garden
B1–B2Mary is a very busy woman. She has a demanding job as a lawyer, and she owns a beautiful house in the suburbs. She loves spending her weekends gardening in her backyard. She enjoys the tranquillity and peace it brings to her life.
Mary's love for gardening began when she was a child. She remembers her grandmother's garden and how it always smelled of fresh flowers. Her grandmother taught her everything she knows about plants and flowers.
Currently, Mary lives with her two cats, Max and Luna. She feels a strong connection with animals and believes they understand her better than most people. Max likes to curl up on her lap while she reads, and Luna prefers to sit by the window and watch the birds.
Mary's friends often ask her for gardening advice because they admire her beautiful garden. She takes pleasure in sharing her knowledge and helping others create their own green spaces.
Reading Comprehension
Identify stative verbs in the passage and answer the questions.
Part A. Underline the stative verbs you find in the passage.
- What kind of job does Mary have?
- What does Mary own?
- What does Mary love to do on weekends?
- When did Mary's passion for gardening begin?
- What does Mary remember about her grandmother's garden?
- Who lives with Mary currently?
- How does Max like to spend time with Mary?
- What does Luna prefer to do?
- Why do Mary's friends often ask her for advice?
- How does Mary feel about helping others with their gardens?
Suggested answers
- Clear stative uses in the passage include: has, owns, loves, remembers, smelled, knows, feels, believes, understand, likes, prefers and admire.
- The passage also contains verbs that describe ongoing activities, such as gardening, reads, watch and helping; these are not stative uses.
- She has a demanding job as a lawyer.
- She owns a beautiful house in the suburbs.
- She loves spending her weekends gardening.
- It began when she was a child.
- She remembers that it always smelled of fresh flowers.
- Her two cats, Max and Luna, live with her.
- Max likes to curl up on her lap while she reads.
- Luna prefers to sit by the window and watch the birds.
- Because they admire her beautiful garden.
- She takes pleasure in sharing her knowledge and helping others.
Role-Play Dialogues
Perform the dialogues, then create your own short scenario and identify the stative verbs you used.
Buying Flowers
Customer / Florist
C: Good afternoon! I'm looking for some flowers for a special occasion.
F: Good afternoon! Of course, I can help you. What kind of flowers do you usually like?
C: Well, I love roses, but I also appreciate lilies.
F: Great choices! We have some beautiful roses and lilies today. How many roses would you like?
C: I think I'll take a dozen red roses, please.
F: These roses smell amazing, and they'll make a wonderful gift.
Visiting a Friend
Friend 1 / Friend 2
F1: Hi there! How are you?
F2: Hi! I'm doing well. Come on in.
F1: Your house always feels so cosy.
F2: Thank you! I have a lot of warm blankets and comfy furniture.
F1: I like the paintings on your wall. They're so colourful.
F2: Thanks! I appreciate art, and I always prefer vibrant colours.
Morning Routine
Roommate A / Roommate B
A: Good morning! How are you today?
B: Good morning! I'm good. The coffee smells great, doesn't it?
A: Yes, it does. I love the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
B: I know, it always makes me feel awake and alert.
A: I have some cereal here if you want some.
B: Thanks, I prefer toast with butter in the morning.
Example Scenario
A customer at a coffee shop complaining about the coffee: “I don't like this coffee; it tastes terrible.”
Stative Verbs Worksheets
Worksheet 1 — Identifying Stative Verbs
Read the sentences. Identify the stative verbs and notice when the same verb can have a dynamic meaning.
- She loves to read novels.
- They are playing in the park.
- He has got a blue car.
- I am thinking about my vacation.
- I think you are right.
- The cake smells delicious.
- Look — he is smelling the food!
- Sarah owns a beautiful necklace.
- John knows the answer.
- The roses look stunning in the garden.
- It feels like summer today.
- She believes in kindness.
Answers
- 1. loves — stative
- 2. No stative verb; are playing is dynamic.
- 3. has got — stative possession
- 4. No stative use; am thinking means considering and is dynamic here.
- 5. think — stative opinion
- 6. smells — stative/linking sense verb
- 7. No stative use; is smelling describes an action.
- 8. owns — stative possession
- 9. knows — stative
- 10. look — stative/linking appearance verb
- 11. feels — stative/linking sense verb
- 12. believes — stative
Worksheet 2 — Using Stative Verbs
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
- Lisa always ________________ (like) reading a good book.
- Tom ________________ (have got) a collection of antique coins.
- I ________________ (know) the answer to this question.
- The coffee in the morning ________________ (smell) so inviting.
- My dog ________________ (like) to sleep in my bed.
- We ________________ (feel) happy when we're with our friends.
- Maria ________________ (understand) French very well.
- The old library ________________ (look) charming with its wooden shelves.
- They ________________ (believe) in the power of teamwork.
- The flowers in the garden ________________ (seem) to bloom earlier this year.
Answers
- 1. likes
- 2. has got
- 3. know
- 4. smells
- 5. likes
- 6. feel
- 7. understands
- 8. looks
- 9. believe
- 10. seem
Homework
Write a short paragraph using stative verbs correctly. You may write about your hobbies, a place you like, flowers or plants, your family, or something you own.