Non-Action Verbs

First Impressions

8

Focus on Grammar 2Part VIII, Unit 27By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ WellsCopyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Dad, this is my new boyfriend, Josh.

Dad, this is my new boyfriend, Josh.

Uh, nice to meet you, Josh.

Uh, nice to meet you, Josh.I don’t like

him.

I don’t like him.

Hmmm….He has

long hair.

Hmmm….He has

long hair.He looks messy.

He looks messy.

Dad, What Do You Think?Dad, What Do You Think?

Non-Action Verbs 1Non-Action Verbs 1

Some verbs do not describe actions. These verbs are called non-action or stative verbs.

I a bird singing.

I to a bird singing.

non-actionverb

action verb

hearhear

am listeningam listening

I seesee dogs running.

Non-Action Verbs 2Non-Action Verbs 2

I am lookingam looking at the dogs.

non-actionverb

Action verb

I lovelove computers!

I hatehate computers!

EmotionsEmotions

Some non-action verbs express emotions.

lovehatelike

dislike

This smells awful!

Senses or AppearanceSenses or Appearance

heartastesmellsound

feelsee

This tastes spicy!

Some non-action verbs describe senses or appearance.

I hearhear the ocean and seagulls.

I hearhear the ocean and seagulls.

Practice 1Practice 1Use the non-action verbs in the box to describe a vacation to the place in the picture.

hearhear seesee smellsmell feelfeel soundsoundlovelove hate hate like like dislike dislike

Needs or PreferencesNeeds or Preferences

wantneedprefer

I prefer Amy’s old boyfriend.

I prefer Amy’s old boyfriend.

Some non-action verbs express needs or preferences.

I thinkthink it’s beautiful.I thinkthink it’s beautiful.

Mental StatesMental States

Some non-action verbs

describe thoughts.

agreedisagree

understandremember

believethinkknow

I disagreedisagree.I disagreedisagree.

We own this

house.

We own this

house.

PossessionPossession

Some non-action verbs

show possession.

HaveOwn

Belong

This all belongs to

us.

This all belongs to

us.

Yes, you oweowe us a lot of money.

MeasurementsMeasurements

The dinner costscosts all the money in

my wallet!

Some non-action verbs describe measurements, such as: cost, weigh, owe.

I am notam not likingliking him.I am notam not

likingliking him.I don’t likedon’t like

him.I don’t likedon’t like

him.

Be Careful!Be Careful!

We usually do not use non-action verbs in the present progressive (-ing) form.

Practice 2Practice 2A mother is meeting her son’s new girlfriend. Use the non-action verbs in the box to describe their first impressions.

have own need prefer

know think agree disagree

I thinkthink her hair color is

awful.

I preferprefer his old girlfriend

Non-Action Verbs 3Non-Action Verbs 3

Some non-action verbs can have different action and non-action meanings.

He lookslooks messy. He is lookingis looking at a tie.

Practice 3Practice 3Explain the different meanings of the verbs in the pairs of sentences.

1. a. The cake tastestastes delicious.

b. He’s tastingtasting the cake right now.

2. a. I havehave some food.

b. I’m havinghaving breakfast.

3. a. He thinksthinks the painting is ugly.

b. He’s thinkingthinking about buying a different painting.

Example: The perfume smellssmells nice.

She’s smellingsmelling the perfume.

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.

ReferencesReferences