Stative vs Dynamic Verbs Game | Stative vs Dynamic Lesson Plan
In my second teaching job interview I had to do a small grammar exercise and for one of the questions I knew the answer, but I didn’t know why.
That’s because it was a stative verb. It’s something that native speakers don’t even know about and many teachers as well. But why are they important? Well stative verbs can’t be used with continuous tenses or would in a past habit.
That’s why we say I’ve known her for a long time, even though logically it could be I’ve been knowing her for a long time.
If you’re a student, watch out video and then play our stative vs dynamic verbs game. It’s a word maze that you need to find the stative sentences to escape!
If you’re a teacher read on below for our stative vs dynamic verbs lesson plan.
Download your stative vs dynamic verbs game word maze
Check the answers below!
How to use the worksheet:
- Watch the Lexi video above.
- Then choose the correct sentences in present simple vs present continuous.
If you have any questions, let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget if you want to sign up for our online classes, click here.
Stative vs Dynamic Verbs Lesson Plan
Length: 45 minutes
Warmer: Simon Says
Ask the students if they know how to play Simon Says.
Start with general dynamic or active verbs and classroom instructions. Then end the game with Simon says “Believe, need, understand, belong, have or own.”
Then explain that we can group verbs in two main groups: Stative vs Dynamic verbs.
Teach: Tell students there are four main types of stative verbs.
- Being and having
- Thinking and believing
- Emotions and feelings
- The senses
Give them a list of stative verbs, depending on level.
Include: own, believe, think, love, hate, smell, taste, see, be, need.
The students then put them into the categories.
Explain that there are some verbs that can be both, and the meaning changes. Here you can play the video with our example at 5:00. Or watch our stative vs dynamic verbs video and elicit and explain them yourself.
Freer practice: Remind students we can’t use stative verbs with continuous tenses. Put students into groups and tell they are going to play a game. They have to escape the word maze. The way out is correct sentences in present simple and present continuous.
Monitor students and at the end, ask for feedback.
Enjoy! And remember please subscribe to our newsletter if you want to receive free teaching materials.
Stative vs Dynamic Verbs Game Answers:
- I realise it’s a difficult situation.
- I wish I could sing.
- That’s mine. It belongs to me.
- This milk tastes funny, is it good to drink?
- I understand what you’re talking about.
- I prefer ice cream to chocolate right now.
- I love my family, they mean the world to me.
- I see the beach from my balcony.
- It depends on the weather.
- I’m loving this new season of Game of Thrones.
- He’s not answering the phone, he’s probably having a shower.
- I have three children.
- I’m seeing a specialist for my back problems.
- I smell smoke. Is something burning?
- I need a haircut right now.
- You’re being so stupid right now!
- I believe in equal rights.
- I know six people called James.
- My brother owns his own business.
