PRACTICE
Advanced Lesson 13
Firstly, what do the words "dynamic" and "stative" mean?
They aren't very common words in everyday English, but they are grammar terms you will need to
know to understand this subject.
Dynamic
"Dynamic" is an adjective which means something is moving or changing.
In English grammar a "dynamic verb" means that the verb describes an action rather than a
state. Dynamic verbs are sometimes known as "action verbs."
"Joe is chasing the bus."
Examples of dynamic
verbs:
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walk
learn
grow
sleep
write
run
read
become
go
Example sentences with dynamic verbs:
"I can't talk right now, I'm eating dinner."
Present progressive used to describe an
action happening now.
"Sorry, I'm out of breath because I've
been running."
Present perfect progressive used to
describe an action that started in the past,
continued for some time and has results
now.
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Stative
"Stative" is an adjective which describes something as having a state, or existing (this is a very
uncommon adjective).
In English grammar a "stative verb" means that the verb describes a state rather than an action.
Stative verbs are sometimes known as "state verbs."
"Kevin wants some ice-cream."
Examples of stative
verbs:
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love
hate
like
prefer
doubt
seem
know
own
understand
Here are some examples, showing that these
words cannot be used in the progressive form.
Correct: "I like chocolate, but I prefer cake."
Incorrect: "I'm liking chocolate but I'm
preferring cake."
Correct: "I don't understand you when you
speak quickly."
Incorrect: "I'm not understanding you when
you speak quickly."
PRACTICE
Advanced Lesson 13
TASK 1 - PARAPHRASING:
If it’s possible, make a sentence with ‘would + infinitive’. If it’s not possible, use‘used
to + infinitive’:
1. I had short hair when I was a teenager.
2. We went to the same little café for lunch every day when I was a student.
3. She loved playing tennis before she hurt her shoulder.
4. He didn’t walk along the beach every evening before bed.
5. I always lost when I played chess with my father.
7. My grandfather drank a cup of coffee after dinner every night.
8. Luke didn’t have a car.
9. We didn’t live in Brazil.
TASK 2 – Choose the correct option
1. Simon never used to / would like snakes, but now he doesn’t mind them at all.
2. Did you use to / used to enjoy science fiction stories?
3. As a child, I would / use to sit for hours watching the archaeologists digging in the sand.
4. When you were young, did you use to / did you used to be scared to insects?
5. The twins would never / never would go into a room if there was a spider in there.
6. During the summer holidays, I did use to / would spend all my time looking for unusual
creatures.
TASK 3: GOOD OLD DAYS
You are at home with your family and somebody takes out an old photo album and starts
talking about good old days. Write sentences about your family members’ past habits
using the following verbs: like – play – hate – climb – build – believe – cry – drink.
You MUST write 3 affirmative sentences and 3 negative sentences
using WOULD whenever is possible!
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