http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aStativeSearch results for 'tag:Stative' matching tag 'Stative'en-USXMOD (Build: 3715.30106)http://www.englishforums.com/English/IWish/nrgbq/post.htm#1088206Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:38:14 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1088206yankeeI would've thought 'knew' is used, because the past subjunctive is required, not the indicative. 'Knew' is a subjunctive usage in that sentence. However, the verb 'know' is a stative verb, English1b3. The difference between stative and dynamic verbs after 'I wish' was the whole point of my last post. In order to use a verb that is not typically stative after 'I wish', you have to use it in such a way that the action referred to has a stative or habitual sort of meaning. If you want more information on stative vs dynamic verbs, you can google that. You'll find sites like this one, for example: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/progressive.htm I wish I killed her . Time for you to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseTime/nrrpz/post.htm#1087459Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:45:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1087459califjimWhat is so different about my example ... ? It contains the stative verb "know". That may have something to do with it. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TheRoomStankFoullyRottenMeat/mjvdd/post.htm#1047851Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:06:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1047851english 1b3Hi Do you find the following lines natural, especially the yellow parts? Any suggestions are welcome. The room stank foully of rotten meat. The two wooden chairs and the broken table, the rusty iron cot and a few hand tools on the ground were all in complete disarray. There was no light in here except for the flickering flame of a thin candle which would soon merge into the darkness. Ason lay motionless on the iron cot. To all intents and purposes, he was dead. Thanks, Tom It's fine, but I would remove 'complete' before disarray, as it is somewhat superfluous. A story is more exciting if you usehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/StativeVerbLook/mwlgx/post.htm#1044870Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:09:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1044870mister micawberYes, you can say it that way, too. In reality, most stative verbs are often cast in the progressive aspect to emphasize the immediacy, evanescence or ephemerality of the state.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Tenses/2/mhcxc/Post.htm#1038455Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:00:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1038455michalsIt was just an example, not a question to you I wanted to show that we can speak about the duration of something using the Present Perfect Simple as long as we refer to stative verbs (like 'be'): I have been a teacher for 10 years. How long have you been a teacher? But when we refer to dynamic verbs (like 'wait')we should rather use the Present Perfect Continuous to speak about their duration up to now: I have been waiting for you for 3 hours. (rather than: * I have waited for you for 3 hours ) How long have you been waiting for her? (rather than: * How long have you waited for her? )http://www.englishforums.com/English/WouldYouPleaseHelpMe/mdmwn/post.htm#1020635Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:24:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1020635ukraine danI'm not a native speaker but since none have answered yet, I'll try to help you what I know. 1) Stative verbs are a group of verbs which cannot be put into Present Continuous and are always replaced with Present Simple, for example verbs of physical perseptions (hear, notice, see, hate, like, love), verbs of wish (wish, want) and many others... 2) "Verbal" is a synonym to "spoken" and "oral". For example, "verbal speech". Also there is another meaning: "verbal" is an adjective from "verb".http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsedToWould/lqjrm/post.htm#1000944Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:03:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1000944califjimIs it perhaps that using 'would + stative verb' results in an ambigual ambiguous meaning? You make a good point. I can't help thinking, though, that there's even more to be said about the distinction between would and used to when expressing habitual action in the past. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/UsedToWould/lqjrm/post.htm#1000910Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:22:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1000910dokterjokkebrokWhat does "would" have to do with the distinction between stative and non-stative verbs? I don't know! The poster seems to have read it in a grammar book so it must be true, right? LOL! I didn't question the premise; I just jumped in! Still, as your church-whorehouse example shows, there is more going on here than first meets the eye regarding used to / would usage. Any ideas? Is it perhaps that using 'would + stative verb' results in an ambigual meaning? The same way as when we say: Suzan may go out tonight which either means that Suzan has her parents' permission to go out, or that there's the possibility that she's going out. Something like that perhaps? Just a wild guess....http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsedToWould/lqjrm/post.htm#1000899Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:00:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1000899califjimBut that bird kept coming back every month or so. It would stay on the windowsill for no more than ten minutes, and then disappear. Every time that mysterious black bird came back, I would feel happy for days. Hmm. You're right. It is possible to contextualize would feel happy that way. What does "would" have to do with the distinction between stative and non-stative verbs? I don't know! The poster seems to have read it in a grammar book so it must be true, right? LOL! I didn't question the premise; I just jumped in! Still, as your church-whorehouse example shows, there is more going on here than first meets the eye regarding used to / would usage. Any ideas? CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/UsedToWould/lqjrm/post.htm#1000877Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:26:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1000877kooyeenHmm, this is weird. What does "would" have to do with the distinction between stative and non-stative verbs? But that bird kept coming back every month or so. It would stay on the windowsill for no more than ten minutes, and then disappear. Every time that mysterious black bird came back, I would feel happy for days. (Disclaimer: The above paragraph was totally made up and it might be ridiculous) The only obvious difference between "would" and "used to" that comes to mind is that... I guess "would" can't be used in this kind of sentence: This brothel used to be a church. Funny, huh? Just my random opinions.http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsedToWould/lqjrm/post.htm#1000437Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:53:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1000437califjimwhich verbs are states? The ones which don't have progressive forms? No. Even some stative verbs are occasionally used in the progressive. A stative verb is one that "has no moving parts". jump is not stative; it describes motion. eat is not stative; you have to move (arm, fingers, mouth) to eat. Roughly, if you can do it without anyone knowing you're doing it, it's stative: exist, believe, think, understand, remember, know, want, prefer, like ... are statives. live (similar to exist ) is stative. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/When/kncbc/post.htm#899932Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:57:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:899932monturI often find that, when I'm asked if something is "acceptable" in English, my first response is "No, it isn't" and then I find myself uncovering instances where it might be in a given context. Using a stative verb in the continuous is a case in point. Of course there are occasions when we might say "I am loving.........", but would it be wise to tell an Intermediate student that? Probably not. So I resort to saying that "In some contexts, it is possible", and leaving it at that. So I'm always banging on about context. Thanks for the heads-up about my choice of example by the way; I should be more sensitive.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentProgressiveOfLove/knczg/post.htm#899815Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:32:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:899815anonymousThere is a class of verbs in English known as "stative" verbs because they relate to a state of being rather than an action (as in a dynamic verb); believe, hate, love for example are stative verbs. These are never used in the continuous (progressive) tense except in exceptionally unusual constructions. Learners of English should assume that these verbs are NEVER used in this way and the common mistake of "Yes, I am owning a car" will not happen.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Sentence/kmhlb/post.htm#896466Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:17:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:896466mister micawberTell your teacher that the verb 'have' when it means 'possess' (and other stative verbs like 'resemble', 'suit') are not put into passive voice. He must choose an active, transitive verb.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheFartherBackLookIntoLife/klmxb/post.htm#893010Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:55:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:893010anonymousHi. What is the difference? Your sentence: All seems well, Tom. and this: All seems good, Tom. I think that, after a stative verb like "seem," the word "good" is normally used. Thank you for your anticipated help.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferentKindOfVerbs/kjkvx/post.htm#882476Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:50:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:882476grammar geekHow are you looking to classify them? Helping/auxilary verbs? Infinitives? Linking verbs vs stative verbs vs active verbs? Tranistive vs intransitive? I did a quick search using Google on "types of verbs" and got several pages of hits: http://www.english-language-grammar-guide.com/types-of-verbs.html http://www.english4dummies.com/grammar/typesofverbs.html http://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/pdf/grammar_usage/types%20of%20verbs.pdf Those are just a few.http://www.englishforums.com/English/NonActionVerbs/kjwmw/post.htm#881963Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:18:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:881963mister micawberNot necessarily; it could also be a stative verb: love, own, contain, etc.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MarkAskingEnjoyYoureEnjoying/kdrwz/post.htm#850099Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:43:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:850099moduffycobb"Enjoy" is not a stative verb. The only difference between the sentences is that you en j oy is in present tense, and you're enjoying is in the present continuous tense. Present-continuous means that you're doing it now . Check out this tutorial I found on stative verbs: http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/stative-verbs.html Cheers, Mohttp://www.englishforums.com/English/MarkAskingEnjoyYoureEnjoying/kdrwz/post.htmThu, 06 Aug 2009 16:32:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:850090jesusenglandHello. What is the difference in meaning between these sentences? - Mark was asking if you enjoy your new job. - Mark was asking if you're enjoying your new job. Is enjoy a stative verb? Thanks.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CouldAnybodyFollowingQuestions/kbkzl/post.htm#843269Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:06:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:843269alpheccastarsThanks, but are the following sentences below correct? The junk will travel (move / go) fast when it's travelling downwind. (downwind is one word and is an adverb, so needs an appropriate active verb to modify. With a stative verb, use "downwind of" to denote a relative position: The hunters are downwind of the game. ) There are dozens of icons.= There are many icons. (OK)http://www.englishforums.com/English/StativeVerbs/4/bhqk/Post.htm#823607Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:11:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:823607mister micawberIt is not a barbarism when its creator can do this: McDonald's Corporation 2008 highlights -- Global comparable sales increase of 6.9%, including U.S. 4.0%, Europe 8.5%, and Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa 9.0% -- Growth in McDonald's combined operating margin of 320 basis points to 27.4%, after adjusting for the impact of the 2007 Latin America transaction -- Operating income increases in the U.S. 8%, Europe 23% (17% in constant currencies) and Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa 33% (28% in constant currencies) -- Earnings per share from continuing operations of $3.76, an increase of 16% (14% in constant currencies), after adjusting for the impact of the 2007 Latin America transaction --...http://www.englishforums.com/English/StativeVerbs/4/bhqk/Post.htm#823531Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:16:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:823531huevosStative verbs when they can acceptably occur in continous aspect are common in both casual and more formal English and tend to express heightened interest-- for whatever reason-- in the activity. No more and no less. Is that where " I'm lovin' it " is pigeonholed, or is it just a barbarism?http://www.englishforums.com/English/StativeVerbs/4/bhqk/Post.htm#823486Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:33:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:823486mister micawberI'm sorry, but I find your argument quite overbuilt (with some glaring holes) and its conclusion inaccurate. Stative verbs when they can acceptably occur in continous aspect are common in both casual and more formal English and tend to express heightened interest-- for whatever reason-- in the activity. No more and no less.http://www.englishforums.com/English/StativeVerbs/4/bhqk/Post.htm#823412Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:24:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:823412anonymousAs an ESL teacher, I have run into the dynamic-stative continuous form problem regularly. My colleagues and I disagree. The way I explain this concept to my students is by trying to clarify that there are two kinds of grammar in the English language.( If one wants to get philosophical, I'm sure there are many 'grammars' if one wants to get into an ethnolinguistic argument and the legitimacy of dialect as language.) The two kinds of grammar: descriptive (the language people use, slang, ebonics) and prescriptive (the rule book based on Latin grammar ideology) follow different rules. I explain to them that English grammar rules were imposed rules based on Latin rules. English is primarily teutonic (though mixed with French) thus...http://www.englishforums.com/English/KindsOfVerb/jvvjc/post.htm#772687Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:20:05 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:772687mister micawberYour question is impossibly vague. There are active verbs, transitive verbs, catenative verbs, copular verbs, stative verbs, irregular verbs-- the possibilities are legion. Could you be more specific?http://www.englishforums.com/English/BothPartiesBusyFinding/2/jblzv/Post.htm#761652Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:56:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:761652anonymousI'm tying my shoe. I'm baking a cake. I'm building a house. I'm making the bed. If the process is aborted, must you then say that, no, you were not doing it? The progressive form (BE +V-ing) puts us within the action. We are not considering when the action started nor when it will end. If the process is 'aborted', you are already looking at it from the end of the action (I did not finish making my bed/ my bed is not made). Usually when we do something, we finish the gesture, so we assume "I'm tying my shoe" will later finish in the shoe being tied. But grammatically speaking, that is NOT the actual meaning of the progressive (BE + V-ING) form. FIND is a...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Would/wpdwc/post.htm#744241Sat, 23 May 2009 16:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:744241califjim" Four months ago, the President would not have considered handing GM 4 Billion ." Does something like this qualify as a "numbered" conditional? I take a hypothesis to be a supposition: Suppose it were last year (now). In that case, they would not intimidate you (now). Also, for yours: Suppose it were four months ago (now). The president would not have ... (at that time). They are slightly different as to "numbered conditionals", of course. The first is an implied second conditional (now - now); the second is mixed (now - then), the if clause being "second", the main clause, "third" -- not an unusual mix when the if clause has to be (or another stative verb). ...http://www.englishforums.com/English/IfKnewGoingWouldntCookedThese/wmzrb/post.htm#729937Thu, 14 May 2009 19:36:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:729937califjimI think I have it wrong. Hmm. Why do you say that? You seem to have it right. Does this stative verb include verbs like "see, hear, like, want, feel, love"? Yes, but they can sometimes be used in a way where they are not clearly stative, as in sudden perceptions: Suddenly I heard a loud noise. This is more of an event than a state. Nevertheless, hear would normally be classified as a "stative verb". CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/IfKnewGoingWouldntCookedThese/wmzrb/post.htm#729917Thu, 14 May 2009 19:20:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:729917tinanam0102Hi CJ, I think I have it wrong. Does this stative verb include verbs like "see, hear, like, want, feel, love"? Thanks Tinanamhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/StativesAndInfinitives/wwqgg/post.htm#713825Mon, 04 May 2009 00:04:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:713825califjim1. Stative verbs. At first, I thought that all "emotion, thinking, and being" verbs were all stative. But I found out I was wrong. "I assume he isn't coming" vs. "I'm assuming that he isn't comming." Both of these seem to work; however, does that mean they are both stative and dynamic? Can you explain a little? The division of verbs into stative and dynamic is not the same as the division of verbs into non-progressive and progressive. to live , for example, is stative, but it's not non-progressive. That is, it designates a state, not an action, but it can be used in a progressive tense. ( They are currently living in London. ) I'm not sure if that's what you wanted. As for to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/StativesAndInfinitives/wwqgg/post.htmSun, 03 May 2009 00:42:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:712204blackblitzI have a few grammar questions. 1. Stative verbs. At first, I thought that all "emotion, thinking, and being" verbs were all stative. But I found out I was wrong. "I assume he isn't coming" vs. "I'm assuming that he isn't comming." Both of these seem to work; however, does that mean they are both stative and dynamic? Can you explain a little? 3. Infinitive Phrases & Noun Clause In french, I know that one says "I want that George works". But in English, we use the infinitive "I want George to go". Is there a rule as to why this happens? Here's another example, "I expect you will be there tmrw" vs. "I expect you to be there tmrw". Which one's...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatsWrongTheseSentences/wwpcv/post.htm#711961Sat, 02 May 2009 21:50:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:711961blackblitzThanks Avangi! I really appreciate you helping my grammar! Anyhow, I'm sitll very intrigued by the "I have a snowboarding friend." Why must the "snowboarding" go infront of the noun? vs. "I have a friend who lives upstairs" --> "I have a friend living upstairs." "I thnk that he went to the concert" --> "think" is also commonly used as "possibly considering", so it is still correct to say "I am thinking that he went to the concert." ? And regarding stative verbs, here is an example from wikipedia (yes, i know its untrustworthy). Dowty gives some tests to decide whether an English verb is stative. They cannot be complements of...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ReallyComplicatedGrammarS/wgdwl/post.htmFri, 17 Apr 2009 20:47:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:698660blackblitz1. What exactly is an adverb of place? I know that it describes where the action takes place. "I was swimming at the pool" At the pool = adverb place But then someone told me that it can modify any direction of the verb. "I stole the clothes from the store" From the stole = sounds like the direction/place of stealing, BUTTT... it also can modify "the clothes" And what about this sentence, "I received a gift from him" and "I banned him from the school" 2. With stative verbs, I can't think of any adverbs of place. "I want the book there" vs. "I want the book to be there" In the first example, "there" modifies the book and in the second "to be...http://www.englishforums.com/English/StativeVerbsAdverbsQuestions/wgdzl/post.htmFri, 17 Apr 2009 16:26:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:698609blackblitz1. What exactly is an adverb of place? I know that it describes where the action takes place. "I was swimming at the pool" At the pool = adverb place But then someone told me that it can modify any direction of the verb. "I stole the clothes from the store" From the stole = sounds like the direction/place of stealing, BUTTT... it also can modify "the clothes" And what about this sentence, "I received a gift from him" and "I banned him from the school" 2. With stative verbs, I can't think of any adverbs of place. "I want the book there" vs. "I want the book to be there" In the first example, "there" modifies the book and in the second "to be...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ABunchOfGrammarQuestions/wgcdl/post.htmThu, 16 Apr 2009 20:26:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:698286blackblitz1. "My book is over there" "The cookies are for everyone" What do the prepositional phrases in these sentences function as? 2. With stative verbs, are there any limits in adverbs? "I have a story to tell" "I have a story for you" "to tell" and "for you" are phrases. One is an infinitive and the other is prepositional. However, do they modify the stative "have" or the object? Is there some rule about stative verbs that would clear this up? 3. "From" "I borrowed something from someone" "I removed the water from the lake" "I have a sister from Canada" In all these phrases, "from" is part of the prepositional phrase....http://www.englishforums.com/English/AskingModalConditional-Context/wzpmq/post.htm#697696Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:00:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:697696califjimIf you had had extra food, you should have given it to the poor. Maybe it's just me, but I don't often use the past perfect with some of the common stative verbs like be and have . It sounds too "fussy" to my ear, I suppose. If you were there, you would have seen ... If I had the , I would have ... instead of If you had been there, ... If I had had the , ... CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/VerbsStandDescriptionPictures/wvgzq/post.htm#689664Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:17:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:689664cliveHi, I have a question concerning the following sentences... Which one is correct or can you say both? (I know that for a description of pictures you normally use the continuous for actions (In the picture she is talking to friends..., But what about verbs like sit, stand etc., aren't they more like stative verbs?) In the picture she lies on the bed. In the picture she is lying on the bed. In the picture he stands in the background. In the picture he is standing in the background. Continuous is norrmally used in these examples. The simple tense is not wrong. But if you say 'In the picture, Tom stands in the background', I will think 'Hmmmm, why did he use that uncommon tense?' It makes it sound a bit like...http://www.englishforums.com/English/VerbsStandDescriptionPictures/wvgzq/post.htmSun, 22 Mar 2009 16:35:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:689655anonymousHello everybody, I have a question concerning the following sentences... Which one is correct or can you say both? (I know that for a description of pictures you normally use the continuous for actions (In the picture she is talking to friends..., But what about verbs like sit, stand etc., aren't they more like stative verbs?) In the picture she lies on the bed. In the picture she is lying on the bed. In the picture he stands in the background. In the picture he is standing in the background.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheVerbToWish/2/wdqhd/Post.htm#687854Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:35:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:687854cool breezeI may not get something, but it still addles me a bit. Why not use I wish I went ? So, as I get we can't say that. ? Go usually implies repeated action, it is not used to indicate what is happening at this very moment: I go there every day. You cannot (usually) say: I go to America if the reference is to the present moment. You say: I am going to America. However, it is possible to use a stative verb in a simple tense to refer to the present moment: I am rich. I have money. Consequently we only need the past subjunctive in sentences like this: I wish I were rich! I wish I had money. However, to refer to the present moment "I am going to America" becomes: I wish I were going to America, not: I wish I went to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/StativeVsDynamicVerbs/vxmp/post.htm#684090Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:24:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:684090anonymousStative verbs infer a thought or emotion i.e. 'to think', 'to ponder' or 'to love', whereas dynamic verbs infer that some kind of action has, is or will be taking place i.e. 'to walk' or 'to destroy'. Happy to help.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveOrParticiple/2/hnrlx/Post.htm#648905Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:40:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:648905califjimI think CJ is saying we shouldn't use "to surround" transitively. Not at all. The police slowly surrounded the thieves until there was no escape. The thieves were surrounded. (passive) = The action of the police slowly placing themselves in positions around the thieves took place. The thieves were surrounded. (adjective) = (can only be in effect after the action takes place) The thieves are now in the state of being located within a circle of police. You can add by the police in either case. It doesn't resolve the ambiguity. But as an isolated sentence only the adjective meaning seems to come to mind -- well, to my mind anyway! _____ I'll admit there's also the stative verb surround . My friends surround...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Wishfulness/hlkvg/post.htm#641666Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:09:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:641666grammar geekWould you mind telling me if the sentences I made and the answers given are correct, please? 1. She refuses to change the curtains. - I wish she would change the curtains . Okay 2. You won’t taste that special apple pie. - I wish you would taste that special apple pie. Okay. You could also say "taste" instead of "try." 3. It’s a shame he doesn’t love that great woman. - I wish he would love d that great woman. This isn't very natural. 4. They won’t welcome their best friend at the airport. - I wish they would welchttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Conditionals/hgrrj/post.htm#614402Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:08:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:614402califjimIs such a sentence possible? "I would still be his secretary if that thing hadn’t happened." Yes, it's quite possible, and it's a fairly common pattern. It's called a mixed conditional. A stative verb in the would-clause does almost seem to be a requirement, though the example below with notice is non-stative. If I hadn't got married, I wouldn't be here. I'm sure we would notice it if anyone had stolen the money. Karen would be the best writer in the class if she hadn't met Pete. No, the plastic wrap didn't burn. If it had burned, we would still (be able to) smell it. Lucy's parents would understand her behavior better if they had read that psychology book. I would know Italian very well by...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Conditionals/hgrrj/post.htmThu, 18 Dec 2008 13:47:22 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:614134olgaaIs such a sentence possible? "I would still be his secretary if that thing hadn’t happened." I thought we should use would+have+V3 if the action is missed or in this case the rule is broken cause BE is a stative verb and in my case it would mean a complete action but not the process?http://www.englishforums.com/English/OnDiscoveryTimesChannelRightOther-SideOutsourcing/mnpzx/post.htm#1071948Fri, 07 Jan 2005 00:32:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1071948evan kirshenbaumI work in an office that, for the last two or three years, has seen an influx of contract employees ... I include myself) nodding in figure-eights, speaking in the present progressive ("This is something I would like to be doing"), I don't see anything particularly Indian about that, at least if the implication is something like "... six months from now". I'd expect the Indian reflex to be "This is something I would be liking to do" or "This is something I would be liking to be doing". That is, forming the progressive of stative verbs, typically a no-no in American English. Evan Kirshenbaum + HP Laboratories >English is about as pure as a 1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 >cribhouse...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WouldTellShesBeing/mgvbc/post.htm#1033343Fri, 15 Oct 2004 22:35:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:1033343ben zimmerKerry continued, "She's being who she was born as." The ... But he didn't express this in the most eloquent manner. So "is" would have been correct if Kerry hadn't been talking about who she was born as? Yes, Kerry could have said "she's (just) being who she is", where the "is" connotes an innate quality inseparable from her very existence. In fact, that would have sounded a bit better than what Kerry actually said. But he was stumbling towards something else, as indicated by his rephrasing, "She's being who she was born as." Either way it sounds a bit unidiomatic in American English, since the stative verb phrase "to be who he/she is" does not usually take...http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsIsAVerb/6/ldldl/Post.htm#937008Mon, 14 Jun 2004 01:04:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:937008cybercypherM. Ranjit Mathews wrote on 13 Jun 2004: "is" doesn't seem to be a verb like (say) "runs" insofar as it isn't qualified by an adverb. If it's ... well. In English, "This food is well" is wrong which seems to indicate that "is" is not quite a verb. You will have to define "verb" before you ask and answer the question "Is 'is' a verb?" It is defined as a stative verb in English grammars. The reason that "This food is well" is wrong is that food cannot be "well" or "ill", only living organisms can be "well" or "ill". "Well" in this case modifies "this food", not "is"; therefore,...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SettlingAStateVerbBet/ldcxk/post.htm#934655Thu, 10 Jun 2004 04:49:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:934655ben zimmerI had a conversation with a friend of mine who ... be most grateful. Plus, what is a 'state verb' anyway? A state verb is a verb that describes a state. That's not a very accurate description, though: it's a bit ... "love" is being used in a slightly different sense from the sense conveyed in "I love you, bunnikins" (or whatever).(snip) I'd argue that the "I'm lovin' it" jingle is a bit different from "I am enjoying it". In Standard American English other standard dialects, the use of the progressive form in "I am enjoying it" indicates that the act of enjoyment is temporary, not a habitual emotional state. In African American Vernacular English, however, many...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SettlingAStateVerbBet/ldcxk/post.htm#934405Thu, 10 Jun 2004 00:10:14 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:934405martin ambuhlI had a conversation with a friend of mine who is learning English. She told me that I can't use ... fine to me. If someone could settle this bet, I'd be most grateful. Plus, what is a 'state verb' anyway? The category "stative verb" contrasts with "dynamic verb." Such verbs express statea rather than actions. They are rarely used in the progressive and not often in the imperative. Your "Mcdonald's slogan" sounds more like Maxwell Smart ("...and loving it!). Actually, there are few purely stative verbs, but rather stative and dynamic usage. In any case, none of this has a damn thing to do with "He apologized for not knowing the answer to the question," in which...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ImFeelingLudacrisRightNow/2/jgzdb/Post.htm#783120Sun, 21 Dec 2003 06:15:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:783120ben zimmerI'd guess that transitive "feel" meaning "to like, enjoy, feel ... no clear antecedent (as in Jay-Z's 1996 song "Feelin' It"). But 1996 is too late for its first hiphop appearance: Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch's "Good Vibrations," released in 1991, urges us to "Feel it! feel it! Feel the vibration" (punctuation added) I'd argue that the two usages are distinct. Marky Mark (né Wahlberg) exhorts the listener to "feel it", where "it" has a clear referent, "the vibration". That's just your run-of-the-mill transitive "feel" ('to sense, be aware of, be affected by'). But Jay-Z raps, "I'm feelin' it... I know...