State Verbs and Event Verbs Subject English Grade IX

 

State Verbs and Event Verbs

Subject English

Grade IX

• In modern English Grammar, Finite Verbs are classified in two broad categories. They are State Verbs and Event Verbs:

Examples of State Verbs

State of being

Verb	Sentences
be	He is a very brave boy. We are Pakistani and they are Chinese.
remain	I remain silent in such cases. He remains dumb all along.

State of Perceiving

Verb	Sentences
See	I see you are a fool.
Hear	I hear a buzzing sound.
Feel	I feel tired. She feels ashamed of your behavior.
Smell	The rose smell, sweet.
Taste	Honey tastes sweet.

State of mind & emotional state

 

Verb	Sentences
Love	Everybody loves his mother.
Hate	you should not hate the por.
Like	Shumaila likes to wear white suit.
Believe	I believe that you are telling the truth.
Forget	I often forget his name.
Appear	The dog appears to be made.

State of Relationship

Verb	Sentences
Have	I have a brother and a sister.
Own	Do you own a motor car?
Owe	You owe your own house.
Belong	This book belongs to me.
Deserve	The brave boy deserves praise.

Examples of Event Verbs

Event verb of single event and repeated events

Verb	Sentences
Buy	I bought an orange from the market (Single Event)
Buy	I buy oranges from the market regularly. (repeated event)

 

Difference between State Verbs and Event Verbs

• State verbs are used only in non-progressive forms. But event verbs are used in both progressive and non-progressive forms.

Progressive	Non-Progressive
State Verb       x I am believing you. (Incorrect)	√ I believe you. (correct)
Event Verb                    √ He is going to school.	√ He goes to school.

• Note: sometimes state verbs may be used in progressive forms, but then the verbs are changed into event verbs and don`t remain the state verbs.

Examples

1. He has a dog.                                (State Verb)
2. He is having his lunch.                 (Event Verb)
3. I forget your name.                       (State Verb)
4. I am forgetting names nowadays. (Event Verb)
5. Honey tastes sweet.                       (State Verb)
6. He is tasting honey.                       (Event Verb)

• Note: There is some state verbs which change their meaning when used in progressive form, as;

1. The boy looks (appear) like his father.
2. The boy is looking (becoming) more and more like his father.
3. You look (appear) bright today.
4. She is looking at (seeing) the moon.