Course Content
Verb BE
0/1
Verb BE in Present
00:00
Present Simple
0/1
Present Simple – explanation & practice
00:00
Present Continuous
0/3
Present Continuous – explanation & practice
00:00
Present Simple vs Continuous Practice
00:00
Action-non action verbs
00:00
Past Simple
0/1
Past Simple Form and Use
00:00
Past Continuous
0/2
Past Continuous Form & Use
00:00
Past Simple vs Past Continuous
00:00
Future tenses (be going to)
0/2
Gonna vs wanna
00:00
Future Tenses: Present Continuous, Be going to, Will, May, Might
00:00
Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous
0/1
Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous
00:00
Gerund vs Infinitive
0/5
Gerund vs Infinitive (all the links & levels)
00:00
Gerund vs Infinitive (Canva A2+) Do you really enjoy it?
00:00
Gerund vs Infinitive (Canva B2) Trip down a memory lane
00:00
Gerund vs Infinitive A2
00:00
Gerund with prepositions
00:00
Used to, be used to, get used to
0/2
Used to, be used to, get used to – Reading
00:00
Used to vs Past Simple (A2+ Canva) – From then to now
00:00
Negative prefixes
0/1
Negative prefixes
00:00
Modal verbs
0/2
Must vs have to vs should vs ought to
00:00
Task ideas
00:00
If vs wether
0/1
If vs whether
00:00
Adverbs vs Adjectives
0/1
Adverbs vs Adjectives (difficult & easy)
00:00
Comparative & Superlative adjectives
0/1
Comparative & Superlative adjectives
00:00
Word formation tasks
0/2
Word formation tasks
00:00
Word formation more practice
00:00
Complex Object
0/2
Complex Object
00:00
“That” construction vs complex object
00:00
Clauses of contrast, purpose and reason
0/1
Although, even though, however, despite/in spite of, in order to/so as to, so that, because, because of, due to
00:00
Adjective/verb + preposition
0/1
Adjective/verb + preposition
00:00
Grammar
    About Lesson

    Action vs non-action verbs

    Quick activity: Action or not?

    Write these verbs on the board (or show on screen):

    run, think, believe, eat, want, feel, work, know, look, own

    Task

    • Students work in pairs.

    • They put verbs into two columns:

      1. verbs you can see happening
      2. verbs you cannot see happening

    Short discussion (pairs → whole group)

    Ask students to discuss:

    • Which verbs are easier to imagine visually?
    • Can you “see” someone knowing something?
    • Which verbs describe actions, and which describe states/situations?

    Lead-in: discovering the rule (guided discovery)

    Write these sentences on the board:

    1. She is talking to her manager right now.

    2. I know the answer.

    3. He is eating lunch at the moment.

    4. We believe this strategy will work.

    5. I am thinking about changing my job.

    6. This bag belongs to me.

    Student task

    In pairs, students answer:

    • Which sentences describe something happening now?

    • Which verbs do not change with “now / at the moment”?

    • Which verbs usually do not go into the Continuous form?

    Elicit the idea:

    • Action verbs → can be used in Continuous

    • Non-action (stative) verbs → usually used in Simple

    Summary:

    Action verbs describe activities.
    Non-action verbs describe states, feelings, opinions, possession, senses.

    Quizlet practice

    Look through the examples from Quizlet and analyze the category of non-action verbs: 

    • states (know, understand, want)
    • feelings (feel)
    • opinions (think, believe, like )
    • possession (have, belong, own)
    • senses (see, hear).

    Quizlet practice 2

    Look through the examples from Quizlet and analyze what the difference is in meaning and what sentences contain action vs non-action verbs.

    Practice time

    Task 1
    She usually (work) from home, but today she (work) from the office.
    I (not / understand) this question.
    Listen! They (discuss) the new contract.
    He (believe) this plan will succeed.
    We (have) lunch with the client right now.
    She (think) this option is better.
    I (think) about moving abroad these days.
    He (own) two companies.
    What you (do) at the moment?
    I (not / like) this design.

    Task 1 – answers

    She usually works from home, but today she is working from the office.
    (habit → Present Simple / temporary situation → Present Continuous)

    I don’t understand this question.
    (non-action verb → Present Simple)

    Listen! They are discussing the new contract.
    (happening now → Present Continuous)

    He believes this plan will succeed.
    (belief → non-action verb → Present Simple)

    We are having lunch with the client right now.
    (activity happening now → Present Continuous)

    She thinks this option is better.
    (opinion → non-action verb → Present Simple)

    I am thinking about moving abroad these days.
    (mental process in progress → Present Continuous)

    He owns two companies.
    (possession → non-action verb → Present Simple)

    What are you doing at the moment?
    (temporary action → Present Continuous)

    I don’t like this design.
    (preference → non-action verb → Present Simple)

    Task 2: Find and correct the mistakes
    He is loving his new position.
    I am not know the answer.
    She is wanting to change her job.
    We are believing this information.
    He is owning a small café.
    I am liking this movie.
    They are understanding the problem now.
    I am agreeing with your opinion.
    She is needing more time to finish the task.
    He is remembering her name.
    We are preferring the first option.
    I am not hating cold weather.
    She is know how the system works.
    They are belong to a large corporation.
    I am doubting his explanation.

    Task 2 — Answers: Find and correct the mistakes

    He loves his new position.

    I don’t know the answer.

    She wants to change her job.

    We believe this information.

    He owns a small café.

    I like this movie.

    They understand the problem now.

    I agree with your opinion.

    She needs more time to finish the task.

    He remembers her name.

    We prefer the first option.

    I don’t hate cold weather.

    She knows how the system works.

    They belong to a large corporation.

    I doubt his explanation.

    Task 3 – Translation practice
    STUDENT 1
    Я зараз працюю над новим проєктом.
    Я знаю цю компанію.
    Вона думає про зміну роботи.
    Він завжди працює допізна.
    Ми не розуміємо це правило.
    Вони зараз обговорюють контракт.
    Мені подобається ця ідея.
    Я слухаю менеджера.
    Вона вірить у цей бренд.
    Ми зараз шукаємо нових клієнтів.

    ANSWERS

    I am working on a new project right now.

    I know this company.

    She is thinking about changing her job.

    He always works late.

    We don’t understand this rule.

    They are discussing the contract right now.

    I like this idea.

    I am listening to the manager.

    She believes in this brand.

    We are looking for new clients at the moment.

    STUDENT 2
    Він хоче нову посаду.
    Я думаю, що це хороше рішення.
    Подивись! Вони сперечаються.
    Цей ноутбук належить мені.
    Ми зазвичай зустрічаємося по п’ятницях.
    Я відчуваю втому.
    Вона зараз читає звіт.
    Я пам’ятаю цей момент.
    Вони зараз працюють з іноземними партнерами.
    Я не погоджуюся з цим підходом.

    ANSWERS

    He wants a new position.

    I think this is a good decision.

    Look! They are arguing.

    This laptop belongs to me.

    We usually meet on Fridays.

    I feel tired.

    She is reading the report right now.

    I remember this moment.

    They are working with foreign partners at the moment.

    I don’t agree with this approach.

    Action vs Non-Action Verbs 1

    Open the brackets. Use the correct tense (Present Simple or Present Continuous).

    1. I usually ___ (think) English grammar is easier than people say, but right now I ___ (think) about this sentence very carefully.

    2. The soup ___ (smell) great! Why ___ you ___ (smell) it again?

    3. This cake ___ (taste) delicious. ___ you ___ (taste) it to check if it needs more sugar?

    4. He normally ___ (wear) glasses, but today he ___ (wear) contact lenses.

    5. You ___ (look) tired. What exactly ___ you ___ (look) at on your phone?

    6. I ___ (not think) this is a good idea, but I ___ (think) of another solution.

    7. She ___ (feel) that something is wrong, so she ___ (feel) his forehead for a fever.

    8. The milk ___ (smell) strange. The cat ___ (smell) it and walks away.

    9. This dish ___ (taste) too salty, so the chef ___ (taste) it again.

    10. He ___ (wear) a suit to work every day, but this week he ___ (wear) jeans.

    11. The painting ___ (look) amazing from a distance, but the artist ___ (look) closely at the details.

    Action & Non-Action Verbs 2

    Open the brackets. Use the correct form (Present Simple or Present Continuous).

    1. Why ___ you ___ (smell) the flowers so closely?

    2. I ___ (think) this answer is correct.

    3. She ___ (wear) a blue jacket tonight.

    4. The soup ___ (taste) a bit strange.

    5. What exactly ___ you ___ (look) at on the screen?

    6. He usually ___ (wear) formal shoes to work.

    7. The room ___ (smell) fresh after cleaning.

    8. The doctor ___ (feel) the patient’s wrist.

    9. You ___ (look) much happier these days.

    10. I ___ (think) about changing my job at the moment.

    11. This dish ___ (taste) amazing.

    12. She ___ (feel) nervous before exams.

    Translation practice 

     (Present Simple think = думка/переконання та Present Continuous am/is/are thinking = процес мислення зараз).

    1. Я думаю про зміну роботи.

    2. Я думаю, що він помиляється.

    3. Вона думає, що це чудова ідея.

    4. Вони думають над новим проєктом саме зараз.

    5. Ми думаємо про відпустку цього вечора.

    6. Я не думаю, що це справедливо.

    7. Він думає над твоєю пропозицією в цей момент.

    8. Ти думаєш, що вона прийде?

    9. Вона думає про переїзд до іншого міста зараз.

    10. Ми думаємо, що це правильне рішення.

    Speaking practice

    Use the verbs below to make questions to your partner. Your partner should respond to them and then ask their question.

    Most Common Non-Action (Stative) Verbs

    Mental states / opinions

    1. know
    2. believe
    3. think (opinion)
    4. understand
    5. remember
    6. forget
    7. agree
    8. doubt

    Feelings / preferences
    9. like
    10. love
    11. hate
    12. prefer
    13. want
    14. need

    Possession / relationships
    15. have (possession)
    16. own
    17. belong

    Senses / perception
    18. see
    19. hear
    20. smell

    Questions for discussion

    1. Do you think it’s a good idea to invest time and money into your education?

    2. Are you thinking about moving to another place?

    3. What do you prefer: working from home or working in an office? Why?

    4. When do you usually have lunch, and what do you prefer eating?

    5. Do you believe in luck, or are you just hoping for the best?

    6. Are you feeling tired today, or do you generally feel tired after work?

    7. Are you currently saving money to buy something special?

    8. What do you want to achieve this year?

    9. Do you remember when your friend has a birthday?

    10. What are you thinking about right now? Do you often think about it?

    Action vs non-action verbs extra practice

    A PDF with the stative-verbs-listDownload
    Previous
    Next