state and action verbs

Question

Which of these verbs are action?agree, compare, decide, forget, hope, imagine, plan, prefer, pretend, promise, suggest, refuse, try, want.Please specify the source, thank you

Vsuresh · Accepted Answer

To me, all of these sound as mental actions.

Nazanin saryazdi · Answer

I've found that these are state among the ones mentioned: agree/disagree, forget, promise,want,prefer,imagine.

CalifJim · Answer

nazanin saryazdi Which of these verbs are action?agree, compare, decide, forget, hope, imagine, plan, prefer, pretend, promise, suggest, refuse, try, want.Please specify the source, thank you

It depends a little on your definition of "action".

agree, compare, decide, forget, imagine, plan, pretend, promise, suggest, refuse, and try can all be considered actions in at least one of the ways they are used. Of these, promise, suggest, and refuse are more clearly physical actions, more specifically, verbal actions. Others are often more like mental actions.

hope, prefer, and want are not actions, but states (of mind). prefer, in fact, is (semantically) just another form of want. It is wanting one thing more than another.

I am the source. Anybody who thinks about the meanings of these words and how they are used can be a source. Not everyone comes to the same conclusion because "action" can be interpreted broadly or narrowly.

CJ

Nazanin saryazdi · Answer

In our books some verbs are considered as action verbs or dynamic verbs which can be used in continuous forms, and some are stare verbs, or stative or non-progressive ones. It is said that we can't use them in continuous forms. For example want is a state verb and we do not have I am wanting,we always have I want. Do you agree?

Fivejedjon · Answer

Such a distinction, and the idea that most 'mental' verbs are stative verbs are perhaps useful as general guidelines. However, they should not be regarded as absolute rules. Most 'stative' verbs, including those often classed as mental verbs, can be used dynamically in continuous forms in some contexts.

Nazanin saryazdi · Answer

That is why among the ones that I mentioned only some were stative and others were action, right?

Fivejedjon · Answer

nazanin saryazdiThat is why among the ones that I mentioned only some were stative and others were action, right?

No. Did you read what CJ and I wrote?

Even hope, prefer and want can be used in continuous forms is certain contexts.

state and action verbs

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