What is a stative verb?

Definition
	A stative verb is a verb that expresses a state of affairs or being rather than action.
	Stative verbs differ from verbs of action not just in meaning but in formal structure and usage.

Discussion
	Some verbs have both senses that express
	a state of affairs or being, and action.

Examples (English)
	be concern have know

Sources
	Crystal 1991 326
	Elson and Pickett 1988 99

Context for this page:

Concept module: stative verb
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): S
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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