Monday, February 20, 2012

Action Words Or State



Verbs are action words. An action word is a doing verb - think of an action and it will know doubt be a verb. For example:
To kick
To run
To jump
To scream
All the words above are action words - you do them.
 Some verbs represent a state of being for example to like is not an action it's a state. To show you like someone you might use actions e.g. to hug, to kiss, to help - but to like on its own isn't an action.
Some verbs can be state and action words depending on the context for example:
1. I have a dog called Picasso.
2. I have lunch every day.
In example 1 have is a synonym for the word possesses or own. Both these synonyms are states of being. Owning something isn´t an action it´s a state of being. Possessing something is a state of being.
 In example 2 have is a synonym for the word eat. To eat is an action.
State verbs can´t be used in a continuous form e.g. as an ING verb. For example, we can't say, "I'm possessing it" or "I'm owning it." Or  'I am loving you', we say 'I love you'!!

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Parts of Speech