Remember that state verbs talk about how things are. They describe a state or condition. Dynamic verbs talk about actions and change. They describe what happens. Some verbs can can be used both to talk about a state and an action. However, the meaning of the word changes.
Examples:
Have
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[Dynamic] I am having lunch now. = I am eating lunch now.
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[State] I have a car. = I possess/own a car.
See
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[Dynamic] I am seeing my friends in the evening. = I am meeting my friends in the evening.
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[State] I see why that is a problem. = I understand why that is a problem.
Weigh
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[Dynamic] The man is weighing the fruit = The man is measuring the weight of the fruit.
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[State] The man weighs 75kg. = The man's weight is 75kg.
Think
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[Dynamic] I am thinking about my future. = I am considering my future.
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[State] I think that is a great idea! = My opinion is that is a great idea.
Other words that can be used in this way are appear, be, cost, expect, feel, fit, hear, imagine, look, smell, and taste.
NOTE:
When you use the dynamic meaning of the verb, you can use both the continuous or the simple form of the verb.
- I am having lunch now. and
- I have lunch every day at the same cafe.
The state meaning of the verb is almost always never used with a continuous form.
- I have a car not
I am having a car.
