Grammar 2-09 | False Beginner | CEFR A1

Stative Verbs

Listen to four conversations about feelings and opinions.

Conversation 1

Man: What are you cooking? It smells great.
Woman: I am making chicken stew.
Man: Oh, it looks so good.
Woman: Here, have a taste.
Man: Oh my gosh! This tastes fanstastic.
Woman: I am so glad you like it!

Conversation 2

Man: Wow! You look stunning.
Woman: Thanks. I have a date.
Man: Ooh. Where are you going?
Woman: I’m going to the new Mexican restaurant.
Man: That sounds fun.
Woman: I’d invite you but …
Man: Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s a date. Have fun!

Conversation 3

Man: What’s wrong? You look terrible.
Woman: I feel terrible. I have a cold.
Man: Oh, sorry to hear that.
Woman: Any advice?
Man: Well, I hear vinegar and lemon juice helps.
Woman: That sounds awful. No thanks.

Conversation 4

Man: I like your sweater. It is wool?
Woman: No, it is cotton. Feel it?
Man: Wow, it feels so soft.
Woman: It is. It is so comfy too.
Man: It looks comfy. I want one.
Woman: Well, Christmas is almost here. Maybe someone special might get you one.
Man: Ooh! That sounds promising.

Stative Verbs - Grammar Focus

Point 1: Stative verbs express feelings and opinions. They are followed by an adjective.
  1. The party sounds fun.
  2. This soup smells delicious.
  3. This test sounds hard.
  4. This pasta tastes great!
  5. She feels sad today!
Point 2: Stative verbs use verbs about the five senses: touch, sight, taste, smell, and sound.
  1. That sounds difficult.
  2. This book looks interesting.
  3. He feels better now.
  4. This pizza tastes terrible.
  5. This milk smells old.
Point 3: Stative verbs are special because the object is an adjective, not a noun or pronoun, like in transitive verbs.
  • (A) Can you make vegetable curry? (Transitive)
  • (B) No, it looks difficult. (Stative)
  • (B) But, I eat it all the time. (Transitive)
  • (A) Yeah, it smells and tastes great. (Stative)
  • (A) I can teach you how to make it. (Transitive)
  • (B) Awesome! That sound fun! (Stative)
Point 4: Stative verbs look and sound often show a prediction for a future opinion about something.
  • This test sounds hard.
  • I think this test will be hard.
  • The movie sounds interesting.
  • I think the movie will be interesting.
  • This soup looks good.
  • I think this soup will be delicious.
Point 5: Stative verbs often can be replaced with a Be verb and keep the same meaning.
  • This record sounds old.
  • This record is old.
  • I feel sick.
  • I am sick.
  • This soup tastes delicious.
  • This soup is delicious.
Answer the following questions about the interview.