Verbs-Semantic classes
Stative verbs
represent states; don’t use progressive
§ Relational verbs be, seem, become (ing form)
§ Verbs of involuntary perception see, hear, feel, taste, (watch, listen – voluntary)
§ Verbs of cognition know, understand, recognise
§ Verbs of affectivity love, dislike, hate, prefer, relish
§ Verbs of position ® between stative and dynamic verbs
stand, sit, lie
Dynamic verbs
3 senses of contrasts
§ durative x punctual (activity taking time x point of time)
run x stop, write x knock
§ agentive x non-agentive ® depends on person’s volation
she is writing x it is raining
wink x she blink
§ bounded x unbounded (directed to point of time x go without stop to its aim)
die x sleep
§ progressive (-ing form) limits the verb to one point
He’s writing letters.
