Stative Verbs: B1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. I ___ in Bristol at the moment, but my real home is Leeds. → am living

The continuous marks the arrangement as temporary, which is exactly what at the moment signals.

2. Water ___ at zero degrees Celsius. → freezes

A permanent scientific fact takes the present simple.

3. Which sentence is incorrect? → I am knowing the answer.

Know is a stative verb and does not take the continuous in any standard variety of English.

4. He ___ very unhelpful today, which is unlike him. → is being

Is being describes temporary behaviour rather than permanent character.

5. This soup ___ far too much salt. → contains

Contain is stative: it describes what something is, not what it does.

6. What ___ about the new proposal? → do you think

Think meaning 'have an opinion' is stative. The continuous would ask what is passing through your mind right now.

7. She ___ dinner with her parents this evening. → is having

Have meaning 'eat' is an action, so it takes the continuous freely — unlike have meaning 'own'.

8. I ___ this restaurant to the one on the corner. → prefer

Prefer is a stative verb of opinion and stays in the simple form.

9. The kettle ___ — could you switch it off? → is boiling

An action happening at this moment takes the present continuous.

10. My sister ___ three languages fluently. → speaks

A permanent ability is a state, so the present simple is correct.

11. 'I see what you mean' uses see to mean ___. → understand

See meaning understand is stative. See meaning meet — I am seeing the dentist — takes the continuous.

12. These days more people ___ from home than ever before. → are working

These days marks a temporary current trend, which is continuous territory.

13. That perfume ___ lovely. → smells

Smell as a perception is stative. Smelling would describe someone deliberately sniffing.

14. I ___ of changing career, though nothing is decided. → am thinking

Think meaning 'consider' is an activity in the mind, so the continuous is right here.

15. The manager ___ the report every Monday morning. → reviews

A fixed routine takes the present simple.

16. Which pair of meanings is correct for 'have'? → own (simple) / eat (continuous)

Have meaning own is stative and simple; have meaning eat or experience is dynamic and takes the continuous.

17. He ___ the piano beautifully, though he rarely performs. → plays

A permanent skill is a state, so the simple form fits despite the rarity.

18. Why ___ so strangely this morning? → are you acting

This morning marks temporary behaviour, so the continuous is required in the question form.

19. This jacket ___ to my brother. → belongs

Belong is stative and has no continuous form in standard English.

20. The company ___ well this quarter, but the year has been difficult. → is doing

This quarter frames a temporary period against a longer background, so the continuous is the natural choice.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. I ___ staying with friends until my flat is ready. → am

A temporary arrangement takes the present continuous: am plus the -ing form.

2. The Earth ___ around the Sun once a year. → travels

A permanent fact of nature takes the present simple.

3. She ___ the answer but she will not tell us. → knows

Know is stative and never appears in the continuous.

4. You ___ being very patient with him today. → are

Are being describes temporary behaviour rather than a fixed character trait.

5. This bottle ___ two litres of water. → holds

A property of the object is a state, so the simple form is correct.

6. What ___ you cooking? It smells wonderful. → are

An action in progress right now takes the present continuous.

7. He ___ to disagree with almost everything I say. → seems

Seem is a stative verb of appearance and stays simple.

8. My parents ___ a small cottage in Wales. → own

Own describes possession, which is a state, not an activity.

9. The children ___ upstairs, so please keep your voice down. → are

Are plus sleeping describes what is happening at this moment.

10. I ___ that she is telling the truth. → believe

Believe is a stative verb of opinion and does not take -ing.

11. Prices ___ rising faster than wages this year. → are

A current trend over a limited period takes the present continuous.

12. This coffee ___ bitter — did you use too much? → tastes

Taste as a perception is stative; the continuous would mean someone was sampling it.

13. He ___ of moving abroad, but he has not decided. → is

Think meaning consider is a mental activity, so is thinking is correct here.

14. The museum ___ at five on weekdays. → closes

A fixed schedule takes the present simple.

15. I ___ seeing the specialist on Thursday afternoon. → am

See meaning meet is dynamic, so the continuous works for an arranged appointment.

16. That coat ___ far more than I can afford. → costs

Cost is stative: it describes a fixed property of the item.

17. Why ___ you wearing a coat indoors? → are

Temporary behaviour right now takes the present continuous in questions too.

18. She ___ tea to coffee at breakfast. → prefers

Prefer expresses a settled preference, which is a state.

19. We ___ currently reviewing every application we receive. → are

Currently signals a temporary ongoing process: present continuous.

20. This box ___ nothing but old photographs. → contains

Contain describes what is inside something, a state rather than an action.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Describe a temporary working arrangement. → I am working from home this week.

Describe a temporary working arrangement.

2. State a permanent daily routine. → The shop opens at nine every morning.

State a permanent daily routine.

3. Use a stative verb that never takes -ing. → She knows everyone in the village.

Use a stative verb that never takes -ing.

4. Comment on temporary behaviour. → You are being unusually quiet today.

Comment on temporary behaviour.

5. State ownership with a stative verb. → This bag belongs to my colleague.

State ownership with a stative verb.

6. Ask about a current, temporary activity. → What are you reading at the moment?

Ask about a current, temporary activity.

7. Describe a permanent skill and role. → He plays the violin in an orchestra.

Describe a permanent skill and role.

8. Use think as an activity, not an opinion. → I am thinking about your offer.

Use think as an activity, not an opinion.

9. Describe a perception with a stative verb. → The soup tastes of garlic and lemon.

Describe a perception with a stative verb.

10. Describe work currently in progress. → They are building a new library downtown.

Describe work currently in progress.

11. State possession in the simple form. → My brother owns two bicycles and a van.

State possession in the simple form.

12. Describe a temporary economic trend. → Prices are falling sharply this quarter.

Describe a temporary economic trend.

13. Use a mental state verb in the negative. → I do not understand this instruction.

Use a mental state verb in the negative.

14. Use have as an action rather than possession. → She is having lunch with a client.

Use have as an action rather than possession.

15. Give scheduled information in the simple form. → The train arrives at platform four.

Give scheduled information in the simple form.

16. Describe temporary accommodation. → We are staying in a hotel until Friday.

Describe temporary accommodation.

17. Use a stative verb of requirement. → This recipe needs three large eggs.

Use a stative verb of requirement.

18. Ask about something happening right now. → Why are you smiling like that?

Ask about something happening right now.

19. Describe an appearance with a stative verb. → He seems rather tired this afternoon.

Describe an appearance with a stative verb.

20. Describe an ongoing course of study. → I am learning to drive at last.

Describe an ongoing course of study.