Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases › Verbs › Present Tense › Emotion States
Present Tense: Emotion States(static verbs / stative verbs)
Express reacting to experiences
Emotional States vs. Activities
| STATIC VERB – EXPERIENCE THE FEELING |
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A static verb is a state. No action is taken. These verbs express how we experience an emotion, and they usually take the nonprogressive verb form. |
Seeing Bill surprised Jill. |
The birthday surprise impresses Jill. |
His thoughtfulness pleases her. |
His creativity amazed us. |
Bill's proposal astonished Jill. |
| DYNAMIC VERB – CAUSE OF THE FEELING |
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A dynamic verb is one in which we take action to do or perform an activity. The action causes someone to experience an emotion. |
Bill is surprising Jill with flowers. |
Bill is impressing Jill with his birthday surprise. |
He is pleasing her with his thoughtfulness. |
Bill is amazing us with his creativity. |
The magician is astonishing everyone. (ongoing) |
surprise (V) occur unexpectedly; (N) – an unexpected usually pleasant action
creativity (N) – the act of having original, imaginative thought
or expression
Also see: Part Mod 1 -ed / -ing
amaze |
astonish |
bewilder |
bother |
concern |
confuse |
delight |
disappoint |
impress |
please |
satisfy |
startle |
stupefy |
surprise |
overwhelm |
worry |
Practice
Experiencing or Taking Action?
Decide which verb form to use in each sentence (context).
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" button.