Grammar · Verb & Sentence Basics
Stative Verbs
Why do we say “I love it” and not “I’m loving it”? Learn which verbs stay simple, with the film Marley & Me.
Grammar › Verb & Sentence Basics › Stative Verbs
The rule in one sentencestate verbs like love, know and want describe feelings, thoughts and facts, so they stay simple — action verbs like run, chew and play can take -ing when something is happening now.
About the film
Marley & Me is a warm family comedy from 2008. John and Jenny Grogan are newly married writers who want a new life, so they move to Florida and get a yellow Labrador puppy called Marley. Marley loves everyone, but he is always chewing something in the house.
What does it do?
Most verbs are actions. You can watch them happen: running, eating, chewing, barking. When an action is happening right now, we use -ing: Marley is running in the garden.
Some verbs are different. They describe a state: something you feel, think, own or notice. You cannot watch a state happen step by step. So these verbs normally stay in the simple form, even when the feeling is true right now. We say John knows the answer, never John is knowing the answer.
Look at the first and third tiles. Loving and understanding happen inside your head or heart, so the verbs stay simple. The other two tiles show actions you can see, so -ing is fine.
A few verbs can be both. The meaning decides the form:
John is writing a story about Marley. John believes it is a good story.
Writing is something you can watch, so it takes -ing. Believing happens only in his head, so it stays simple.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
state verbs — always simple
Jenny wants a quiet dog.
Marley doesn’t like thunderstorms.
Use don’t / doesn’t, not “isn’t liking”.Do you remember the puppy’s name?
Do / Does + subject + verb.action verbs — -ing for right now
Marley is digging a hole in the garden.
The puppy isn’t sleeping in his bed.
am / is / are + not + -ing.Is he eating my shoe again?
Am / Is / Are + subject + -ing.When to use each one
state verbs — inside your head or heart
action verbs — things you can watch
Words that help: state or action?
Learn these groups. When you see one of these verbs, think twice before you add -ing.
state verbs → normally simple
action verbs → -ing is fine for now
Common mistakes
❌ Jenny is loving the new puppy.
✅ Jenny loves the new puppy.
Love is a feeling, not an action, so it stays simple.
❌ John is knowing that Marley is trouble.
✅ John knows that Marley is trouble.
Knowing happens in your head. You cannot say “is knowing”.
❌ Look! Marley chews the sofa.
✅ Look! Marley is chewing the sofa.
“Look!” shows it is happening now, and chewing is an action.
❌ This house is belonging to John and Jenny.
✅ This house belongs to John and Jenny.
Belong is about owning, so it stays simple.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
“I’m loving it” in adverts. You may hear people say I’m loving this! in very informal speech or in adverts. It breaks the rule on purpose, to sound fresh and excited. In your own writing and in exams, keep the simple form.
✅ Jenny loves her new life in Florida. (normal English)
✅ “I’m loving this sunshine!” (very informal, spoken only)
Practice: state or action?
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. Jenny ___ the puppy the moment she sees him.
Love is a feeling → simple form.
2. Be quiet! Marley ___ in his bed.
Sleeping is an action happening now → is sleeping.
3. John ___ why the dog is so wild.
Understand is a thought → simple form.
4. Oh no! The puppy ___ John’s shoe.
“Oh no!” shows it is happening now → is eating.
5. The yellow Labrador ___ to the Grogan family.
Belong is about owning → simple form.
6. John ___ about a new idea for his column.
Here think means using your mind right now → is thinking.
7. I ___ Marley is a funny name for a dog.
Here think means “my opinion” → simple form.
8. Marley ___ scared when he hears thunder.
Seem describes a state → simple form.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
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