stative
Verb expressing condition
Stative describes verbs that express states rather than actions—conditions that simply exist rather than happen.
Know, believe, want, and belong are stative: I know the answer describes a state of knowing, not an act of knowing.
Stative verbs typically resist the progressive: "I am knowing" sounds wrong because knowing isn't something you do continuously.
The term contrasts with dynamic verbs like run, eat, or build, which describe actions unfolding through time.
Verb joining subject and complement
- predicateSentence's non-subject portion
- aspectFeature or dimension
- tenseStrained or nervous
- verbAction-expressing word
dynamic · progressive · perfective · auxiliary · modal · complement · syntax · semantics
Not varying at all
- constantFixed, unvarying quantity
- enduringPersisting through time
- lastingContinuing through time
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
permanent · fixed · steady · immutable · invariable · stable · abiding · continuous
copula
Verb joining subject and complement
verb · dynamic · progressive · perfective · auxiliary · modal · complement · syntax · semantics · lexical
unchanging
Not varying at all
persistent · permanent · fixed · steady · immutable · invariable · stable · abiding · continuous · ongoing
health
Condition of body, mind
possession · cognition · emotion · belief · knowledge · desire · perception · sensation · attitude · disposition
stativedynamic
Active and changing
active · action verb · activity · process · accomplishment
- gas stationRetail fuel vendor
- fire stationEmergency responder base
- police stationLaw enforcement facility
- train stationPassenger boarding facility for locomotives
- radio stationFacility transmitting audio programming
- bus stationTransit departure point