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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.
1. Shh! Be quiet! I ___ to a very important podcast right now.
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.
Answer: need
'Need' is a stative verb. Even if it is happening right now, you cannot use '-ing'.
Keep practising with related reading and grammar units at your level.
3. Look at that beautiful dog. Do you ___ to who it belongs?
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.
Answer: want
'Want' is a feeling/emotion verb. It never takes '-ing'.
5. My sister is in the kitchen. She ___ dinner for us.
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.
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.
Answer: believe
'Believe' is a thought/opinion, which is stative. No '-ing'.
8. My brother ___ two cars and a motorcycle.
Answer: owns
Verbs of possession like 'own' or 'belong' are stative.
9. I can see you are moving your mouth, but I ___ you.
Answer: don't understand
'Understand' is a brain state. It cannot be continuous.
10. What are you doing? I ___ a letter to my friend.
Answer: am writing
'Write' is a physical action, so we use Present Continuous.
1. I _____ this song very much.
Answer: like
'Like' is an emotion (stative). No '-ing'.
2. Where is Tom? He _____ tennis in the park right now.
Answer: is playing
Playing is an action happening now (dynamic).
3. That car over there _____ to my father.
Answer: belongs
'Belong' is a possession verb (stative).
4. I am so tired. I _____ to stay home tonight.
Answer: prefer
'Prefer' is an opinion/feeling (stative).
5. Look! The bus _____ down the street.
Answer: is coming
Coming is an action happening right now.
6. I am sorry, I _____ your name.
Answer: forget
'Forget' is a brain state (stative).
7. This coffee _____ amazing.
Answer: smells
Describing a scent is a state (stative).
8. We _____ a movie right now. Call me later.
Answer: are watching
Watching is a dynamic action happening now.
9. I _____ her face, but not her name.
Answer: remember
'Remember' is a memory/brain state (stative).
10. He looks sad. He _____ very upset today.
Answer: seems
'Seem' describes an appearance/state (stative).
1. Find the incorrect sentence:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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'.
1. Question 501
2. Question 502
3. Question 503
4. Question 504
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.