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Radovan Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

State verbs - enjoy???

Hi.

In some grammar books and coursebooks, the verb "enjoy" is said to be a state verb, not forming continuous tenses. I personly don't agree. I think it is very common to say "I am enjoying the party." and things like that. So I usually tell people to cross "enjoy" out. Would you agree?

There are some other verbs which are said to be state verbs, i.e. "see, hear, think, love, like, look". However, I can hear sentences like "I can't believe what I am seeing., , What we are seeing here ..... , They aren't looking very happy., I am loving it., I am liking it., I am thinking you ain't no taxi driver. I am hearing ....." etc. more and more often, so I believe, that rule is becoming quite obsolete. What do you think?

Thanks for your comments.

  

Top answer

radovan So I usually tell people to cross "enjoy" out. Cross it out? Do you mean "Take it off the list of stative verbs"?

— CalifJim

  • radovan So I usually tell people to cross "enjoy" out.
  • Cross it out?
  • Do you mean "Take it off the list of stative verbs"?
  • Yes.
  • It's not stative.
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4 Answers
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radovanSo I usually tell people to cross "enjoy" out.

Cross it out? Do you mean "Take it off the list of stative verbs"? Yes. It's not stative.

radovanother verbs

Those are all highly dependent on context. Usually the books are saying that you shouldn't use the continuous forms for "neutral usage", where you're

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There are not very many (maybe none) verbs which, in every context, are state verbs, so you cannot without exception say that "X" is a state verb. Many "state" verbs have usage as "dynamic" verbs, and, as you observe, the rules in practice aren't as strict as some grammar sources claim.

For example:

I will be seeing you next week.
Mr. and Mrs. Black are having a

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radovanso I believe, that rule is becoming quite obsolete. What do you think?

There are plenty of cases that still apply, e.g. "He is owning owns two houses", "I am belonging belong to the golf club", "I am loving love you" etc. I think what is happening is not that the rule is becoming obsolete, but that some verbs that wer

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radovanIn some grammar books and coursebooks, the verb "enjoy" is said to be a state verb, not forming continuous tenses. I personaly don't agree. I think it is very common to say "I am enjoying the party." and things like that. So I usually tell people to cross "enjoy" out. Would you agree?

I agree.

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