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Glite Dictionary
stative

stative

8.1
Describing a verb or adjective that shows a state rather than an action
  • adjective
  • /ˈsteɪtɪv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : estativo
  • In English, stative verbs describe a state of being rather than an action, such as 'know' or 'belong.'
  • stative verbs

Examples

  • Though prescriptive grammars often warn students that stative verbs are not used in the present perfect progressive tense, the reality is that native speakers do not necessarily follow this prescribed rule.

    Academic text (2018)

  • A number of stative verbs in the simple present follow, denoting Jane's psychological state ("have but a field," "have not time," "want to be") or the external scene ("are").

    Academic text (1992)

  • And I'll add that when participles are made of stative verbs like "to be," they are generally unnecessary.

    Blog text (1)

  • Stative verbs are replaced by actional verbs in the present, and by these means, nonnarrative passages become narrative.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Unlike action verbs, stative verbs focus on a condition, like feeling happy or having a home.

  • Examples of stative verbs include 'believe' and 'own,' both indicating states rather than activities.

Surface Forms

stative positive

Morphology

stative = state (transparent) = state + ive

Formed by the noun 'state' plus the common adjective-forming suffix '-ive', so the meaning 'relating to a state' is directly derived and accessible to learners.

Etymology

The word stative comes from the Latin status ('standing') and the verb stare ('to stand'), and is the same root as the English word state. Think of a stative verb as something that 'stands' still: it describes a steady condition (like 'know' or 'love') rather than an action.