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A2

Stative Verbs – Verbs You Cannot Use in Continuous (A2)

Exercises:

Read the sentence and choose the correct verb form. Remember which verbs are stative (no -ing)!

EXAMPLE: Shh! Be quiet! I ___ to a very important podcast right now.
Answer: am listening

Question 1 of 9

I cannot help you right now because I ___ to go to the bathroom.

▸Answer key

Practice Questions & Answers

All A2 questions for “Stative Verbs – Verbs You Cannot Use in Continuous (A2)”, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Try the interactive exercises above, then check your answers here.

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

1. Shh! Be quiet! I ___ to a very important podcast right now.
- A. listen
- B. am listening ✓
- C. listens
- D. am listen
Answer: am listening
'Listen' is a dynamic action verb, so we use Present Continuous ('am listening') for actions happening right now.
2. I cannot help you right now because I ___ to go to the bathroom.
- A. am needing
- B. needs
- C. need ✓
- D. am need
Answer: need
'Need' is a stative verb. Even if it is happening right now, you cannot use '-ing'.

More A2 English Practice

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3. Look at that beautiful dog. Do you ___ to who it belongs?

A. knowing
B. know ✓
C. are knowing
D. knows

Answer: know

'Know' is a stative brain verb. We never use 'knowing' in this context.

4. We are at a restaurant. I ___ a large pizza with extra cheese, please.

A. want ✓
B. am wanting
C. wants
D. wanting

Answer: want

'Want' is a feeling/emotion verb. It never takes '-ing'.

5. My sister is in the kitchen. She ___ dinner for us.

A. cook
B. cooks
C. is cooking ✓
D. cooking

Answer: is cooking

'Cook' is a dynamic action verb, so we can use '-ing' for right now.

6. This soup is delicious. It ___ very good.

A. tastes ✓
B. is tasting
C. taste
D. tasting

Answer: tastes

When describing how food is (a state), we use the stative present simple: 'tastes'.

7. I lost my phone yesterday. I ___ that it is in my car.

A. am believing
B. believe ✓
C. believes
D. believing

Answer: believe

'Believe' is a thought/opinion, which is stative. No '-ing'.

8. My brother ___ two cars and a motorcycle.

A. is owning
B. owns ✓
C. own
D. owning

Answer: owns

Verbs of possession like 'own' or 'belong' are stative.

9. I can see you are moving your mouth, but I ___ you.

A. am not understanding
B. don't understand ✓
C. doesn't understand
D. not understanding

Answer: don't understand

'Understand' is a brain state. It cannot be continuous.

10. What are you doing? I ___ a letter to my friend.

A. write
B. writes
C. am writing ✓
D. writing

Answer: am writing

'Write' is a physical action, so we use Present Continuous.

Exercise 2: Drop-Down Selection

1. I _____ this song very much.
- A. am liking
- B. like ✓
- C. likes
Answer: like
'Like' is an emotion (stative). No '-ing'.
2. Where is Tom? He _____ tennis in the park right now.
- A. plays
- B. is playing ✓
- C. playing
Answer: is playing
Playing is an action happening now (dynamic).
3. That car over there _____ to my father.
- A. is belonging
- B. belong
- C. belongs ✓
Answer: belongs
'Belong' is a possession verb (stative).
4. I am so tired. I _____ to stay home tonight.
- A. am preferring
- B. prefer ✓
- C. prefers
Answer: prefer
'Prefer' is an opinion/feeling (stative).
5. Look! The bus _____ down the street.
- A. comes
- B. is coming ✓
- C. come
Answer: is coming
Coming is an action happening right now.
6. I am sorry, I _____ your name.
- A. am forgetting
- B. forget ✓
- C. forgets
Answer: forget
'Forget' is a brain state (stative).
7. This coffee _____ amazing.
- A. is smelling
- B. smell
- C. smells ✓
Answer: smells
Describing a scent is a state (stative).
8. We _____ a movie right now. Call me later.
- A. watch
- B. are watching ✓
- C. watches
Answer: are watching
Watching is a dynamic action happening now.
9. I _____ her face, but not her name.
- A. am remembering
- B. remember ✓
- C. remembers
Answer: remember
'Remember' is a memory/brain state (stative).
10. He looks sad. He _____ very upset today.
- A. is seeming
- B. seem
- C. seems ✓
Answer: seems
'Seem' describes an appearance/state (stative).

Exercise 3: Spot the Mistake

1. Find the incorrect sentence:
- A. I am reading a very interesting book.
- B. I am loving this pizza, it is delicious! ✓
- C. I want to go home now.
- D. He needs a new computer for his work.
Answer: I am loving this pizza, it is delicious!
In standard English grammar, 'love' is an emotion and cannot be continuous. You should say 'I love this pizza'.
2. Find the incorrect sentence:
- A. Do you understand what I am saying?
- B. I am not knowing the answer to this question. ✓
- C. She remembers exactly what happened.
- D. They are swimming in the pool.
Answer: I am not knowing the answer to this question.
'Know' is a state of the brain. You must say 'I do not know the answer'.
3. Find the incorrect sentence:
- A. This jacket is belonging to my brother. ✓
- B. He owns three different houses.
- C. I am running because I am late.
- D. We prefer tea over coffee.
Answer: This jacket is belonging to my brother.
Possession verbs cannot take '-ing'. It must be 'This jacket belongs to my brother'.
4. Find the incorrect sentence:
- A. I believe you are right.
- B. He is seeming very tired today. ✓
- C. The food smells fantastic.
- D. They are playing video games in the living room.
Answer: He is seeming very tired today.
'Seem' is a stative verb of appearance. It must be 'He seems very tired'.
5. Find the incorrect sentence:
- A. I hear a strange noise outside.
- B. She is working at the hospital today.
- C. We are wanting to go to the beach. ✓
- D. He forgets his password every week.
Answer: We are wanting to go to the beach.
'Want' is a desire/feeling. It cannot be continuous. It must be 'We want to go'.

Exercise 5: Speed Challenge

1. Question 501
2. Question 502
3. Question 503
4. Question 504

Exercise 6: Voice Practice

1. Speak 2 to 3 sentences using stative verbs. For example, tell the AI what food you like, what you want to do tomorrow, or something you know how to do.

A2 · Reading