In modern English grammar, Verbs are doing words, and are classified into two main categories: State Verbs and Event Verbs.
A verb may tell us about a person or thing’s identity (such as “Mr. Adam is a doctor”), What a person or thing has (like “Lisa has a pet dog”), and actions or activities (as in “Ronaldo kicks the football”).
State Verbs and Event Verbs
State Verbs
- State of Perceiving:
- Verbs: “see,” “hear,” “feel,” “smell,” etc.
- Description: Describes the act of perception through the senses.
- State of Mind and Emotional State:
- Verbs: “love,” “forget,” “like,” “hate,” “wish,” etc.
- Description: Reflects emotions and one’s mental state.
- State of Being:
- Verbs: “be,” “remain,” etc.
- Description: Expresses the condition or existence of a subject.
- State of Relationship:
- Verbs: “have,” “own,” “owe,” “belong to”, “deserve” etc.
- Description: Indicates various aspects of relationships between entities.
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Event Verbs
- Single Event:
- Examples: “buy,” “sell,” etc.
- Description: These verbs represent actions that happen as individual instances, usually not part of a regular or repeated pattern.
- Repeated Event:
- Verbs: “wash,” “walk,” etc.
- Description: These verbs denote actions that are undertaken repeatedly or habitually, indicating a regular occurrence.
Sentences With State Verbs
State of Perceiving
State Verb: See
- She sees a beautiful sunset every evening.
- I see the book on the shelf.
- The detective sees a suspicious person in the crowd.
- We see a rainbow after the rain.
- He sees the details in the painting.
- They see a shooting star in the night sky.
State Verb: Hear
- I hear the birds chirping outside my window.
- We hear a mysterious sound in the dark alley.
- She hears the sound of waves crashing on the shore.
- They hear a distant thunderstorm approaching.
State Verb: Feel
- She feels the softness of the silk against her skin.
- They feel the cold breeze as they walk by the river.
- We feel the texture of the sand between our toes.
- The child feels the smooth surface of the pebble.
- She feels the gentle touch of a raindrop on her hand.
State Verb: Smell
- I smell the aroma of fresh coffee in the morning.
- She smells the fragrance of blooming flowers in the garden.
- He smells the pungent odor of a skunk nearby.
- They smell the sweet perfume lingering in the air.
- Do you smell the scent of rain on the horizon?
- The chef smells the spices blending in the dish.
- The dog smells the trail of a rabbit in the woods.
State Verb: Taste
- She tastes the sweetness of ripe strawberries.
- I taste the savory flavors in the homemade soup.
- We taste the spiciness of the curry dish.
- He tastes the bitterness of black coffee.
- They taste the freshness of the sea in the seafood.
- Do you taste the tanginess in the lemonade?
- The child tastes the sweetness of chocolate for the first time.
State of Mind and Emotional State
State Verb: Love
- She loves spending time with her family.
- They love the peacefulness of the countryside.
- I love the excitement of a good book.
- The couple loves the serenity of sunsets by the beach.
- She loves the bond she shares with her pet.
State Verb: Forget
- I often forget where I put my keys.
- He forgets names easily but remembers faces.
- We forget the stress of the day when watching a comedy.
- They forget the pain of the past as time goes on.
- She forgets the details of the argument.
- Do you ever forget important dates?
- The old man forgets things more frequently now.
- I forget the worries of tomorrow when enjoying the present.
State Verb: Like
- She likes the simplicity of minimalist design.
- He likes the taste of spicy food.
- We like the comfort of our favorite spot in the park.
- They like the challenge of solving puzzles.
- I like the sound of rain tapping on the window.
- Do you like the feeling of accomplishment after a workout?
- The children like the excitement of the amusement park.
- She likes the sense of community in her neighborhood.
State Verb: Hate
- I hate the feeling of being misunderstood.
- He hates the taste of bitter medicine.
- They hate the injustice in the world.
- We hate the sound of nails on a chalkboard.
- She hates the negativity that surrounds gossip.
- Do you hate the feeling of disappointment?
- The activist hates the discrimination faced by marginalized communities.
- He hates the cold weather and prefers warm climates.
State Verb: Wish
- She wishes for more moments of peace in her life.
- I wish for success in my endeavors.
- They wish for a world without poverty.
- We wish for good health for our loved ones.
- He wishes for understanding in difficult situations.
- Do you wish for more time in a day?
- The child wishes for a puppy as a birthday gift.
- She wishes for happiness for everyone around her.
State of Being
‘Be’ Verb:
- She is an artist.
- Mark is adventurous.
- Sarah is compassionate.
- John is dedicated.
- The children are curious learners.
“Remain” Verb:
- Despite setbacks, he remains hopeful.
- The team remains cohesive.
- Jenny remains inspiring.
- Despite criticism, the artist remains visionary.
- The bond remains lifelong.
State of Relationship
“Have” Verb:
- They have a close friendship.
- Sarah and John have a strong bond.
- The team members have a common goal.
- He has a loving family.
- The couple has a happy life together.
“Own” Verb:
- He owns a vintage guitar.
- Sarah owns a thriving bakery.
- The museum owns rare artifacts.
- They own a cozy cabin.
- The bookstore owns a diverse collection.
“Owe” Verb:
- I owe her a sincere apology.
- They owe their success to hard work.
- The company owes its growth to innovation.
- We owe a debt of gratitude to our mentors.
- She owes a favor to her friend.
“Belong to” Verb:
- The vintage car belongs to my grandfather.
- The beautiful painting belongs to the artist.
- The award belongs to the entire team.
- The old house belongs to a historical era.
- The responsibility belongs to each team member.
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“Deserve” Verb:
- She deserves recognition for her efforts.
- They deserve the praise they receive.
- The students deserve a break after exams.
- He deserves a promotion for his dedication.
- The team deserves to celebrate their win.
Sentences With Event Verbs
Event Verb of a Single Event
“Buy” Verb:
- She bought a new dress for the party.
- Mark bought a vintage record at the flea market.
- The couple bought a cozy house in the suburbs.
- I bought a new book from the bookstore yesterday.
- They bought tickets to see their favorite band in concert.
“Sell” Verb:
- The artist sold a painting to a collector.
- Sarah sold her old furniture before moving.
- He sold his unused gadgets online.
- The farmer sold fresh produce at the market.
- She sold tickets for the charity event.
Event Verb of Repeated Events
“Buy” Verb:
- She buys flowers every week.
- Mark buys coffee daily.
- He buys a newspaper daily.
- Sarah buys fresh vegetables weekly.
- I buy a new book monthly.
“Wash” Verb:
- She washes her car weekly.
- Despite the rain, they wash their dog weekly.
- Sarah washes her hair every other day.
- I wash windows monthly.
- They wash their hands before every meal.
“Walk” Verb:
- Every evening, she walks for exercise.
- Mark walks his dog twice daily.
- Despite the weather, they walk to the park weekly.
- He walks to the store instead of driving.
- Sarah walks to work for fresh air.
Difference Between State Verbs and Event Verbs
| Aspect | State Verbs | Event Verbs |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Describe stable states or conditions. | Describe dynamic actions or events. |
| Progressive Forms | Typically used in non-progressive forms. | Can be used in both progressive and non-progressive forms. |
| Examples | She knows French. He believes in ghosts. The rose smells lovely. They appear happy. | She is learning French. You are looking at the moon. She is handing out roses to everyone. They are celebrating their anniversary. |
| Progressive Use | Limited use in progressive forms; may transform into event-like expressions. | Can be naturally used in progressive forms to represent ongoing or completed actions. |
| Dynamic Nature | Represent stable and enduring states. | Represent dynamic and active actions or events. |
Also, Read
Main and Helping Verbs
Causative Verbs
Semi Modal Verbs
