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Dokterjokkebrok Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Stative/Dynamic Adjectives
Hi,
I was wondering if there's a way to check whether you're dealing with stative or dynamic adjectives. Maybe some sort of standard question you could ask or use?
1. wide
2. sensible
3. cynical
4. ignorant
5. triangular
6. silly
In any case, I would say triangular and wide are both stative. But I wouldn't know about the others.
Thank you very much for your help.
- DJB -
I was wondering if there's a way to check whether you're dealing with stative or dynamic adjectives. Maybe some sort of standard question you could ask or use?
1. wide
2. sensible
3. cynical
4. ignorant
5. triangular
6. silly
In any case, I would say triangular and wide are both stative. But I wouldn't know about the others.
Thank you very much for your help.
- DJB -
Top answer
Hi, doc, When I read the preview, I assumed you were asking about verbs. I've never thought about adjectives as being stative or dynamic. Pardon me while I regroup!
- Hi, doc, When I read the preview, I assumed you were asking about verbs.
- I've never thought about adjectives as being stative or dynamic.
- Pardon me while I regroup!
- I'm probably way out of line.
- Best regards, - A.
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8 Answers
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Hi, doc,
When I read the preview, I assumed you were asking about verbs. I've never thought about adjectives as being stative or dynamic. Pardon me while I regroup!
When I read the preview, I assumed you were asking about verbs. I've never thought about adjectives as being stative or dynamic. Pardon me while I regroup!
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Hi A.
No problem and thanks anyway for your reply. I got it from Quirk & Greenbaum's A Student's Grammar of the English Language.
E.g. He is tall. > Supposedly tall is stative here because it's more or less an unchangeable fact. The adjective 'kind' on the other hand does appear to be a so-called dynamic adjective, as in 'He's being very kind to
No problem and thanks anyway for your reply. I got it from Quirk & Greenbaum's A Student's Grammar of the English Language.
E.g. He is tall. > Supposedly tall is stative here because it's more or less an unchangeable fact. The adjective 'kind' on the other hand does appear to be a so-called dynamic adjective, as in 'He's being very kind to
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So if "tall" is stative because it's unchangeable, than "short" must be dynamic.
But perhaps we can correct our shortness at about the same rate at which we can correct our ignorance.
But perhaps we can correct our shortness at about the same rate at which we can correct our ignorance.
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AvangiWhat about the difference between "Don't be silly!" and "You are a silly person." ?Hi,
Hm, yeah, I think this is the one. So, probably then the test would be to see whether or not it is allowed in the progressive. They don't give an awful lot of examples in the book, but I think you're right on the money
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Hi again,
Ah! But wait. I did not see that link you added in the edit. This is really helpful! Thanks Avangi!
Ah! But wait. I did not see that link you added in the edit. This is really helpful! Thanks Avangi!
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If you know any Spanish, the statives are the ones that take ser, and the dynamics are the ones that take estar.
CJ
CJ
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CalifJimIf you know any Spanish, the statives are the ones that take ser, and the dynamics are the ones that take estar.CJYes, I heard about how Spanish has two forms of to be. I didn't know it could be used to distinguish between statives and dynamics. Hm, maybe I should learn some Spanish. Did you study Spanish Jim?
- DJB -
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Hi
Simply, stative adjectives are not subject to willful control like tall. However, dynamic adjective are those that can be controlled willfully like careful. you can make a test by putting be before the adjective to form an imperative sentence. if it makes sense so it is dynamic for example, be careful, don't be naughty...etc.
I hope this helps.
Simply, stative adjectives are not subject to willful control like tall. However, dynamic adjective are those that can be controlled willfully like careful. you can make a test by putting be before the adjective to form an imperative sentence. if it makes sense so it is dynamic for example, be careful, don't be naughty...etc.
I hope this helps.
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