stative or dynamic?

[Annick Gottin]

Please, could you tell me if 'to live" is a stative or a dynamic verb?
Thank you very much

[Casiopea]

'to live' belongs to the category Stances, which also houses; e.g., sit, stand, lay, rest, hang. Here are a few tests you can try:

Imperative
Live there, then! See if I care. (Dynamic)

Progressive
Who is living there, now? (Dynamic)

Perfect
They have been living there for years. (Dynamic)

Cleft
Living in Chicago is what she is doing. (Dynamic)

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Originally Posted by Annick Gottin

Please, could you tell me if 'to live" is a stative or a dynamic verb?
Thank you very much

Hi Annick
Dynamic implies change (action)
Stative implies no change (state)

1. Most verbs in English are dynamic: work, live, eat
2. A small group of verbs are stative: (know, understand).
3. Exceptions to the rule: some verbs can be used in a dual sense i.e. a staive or a dynamic sense:
be: although be is generally stative it can have a temporary dynamic sense: My boss is being nasty.

The verb <live> can be used in a stative sense when it means to stay or be alive i.e. a state: He didn't live to see the realization of his dream. All other meanings are dynamic.

The verb come is another example compare:
I come from Germany (stative: I am from Germany)
I am coming from Germany (dynamic: travelling).

It measures four meatres (stative)
He is measuring the car (dynamic)

4. Sometimes you make a stative verb dynamic to add emphasis only:
I hope she...
I am hoping she.... (dynamic: hope very much)

Regards
Jamshid

[Annick Gottin]

Thanks so much for your explanation! I've got it more clear now!
Can I ask you another question, please?
Is the following statement correct?: "I am liking wine these days."

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Dynamic verbs can be used in the simple or the continuous forms.
Stative verbs are only used in the simple form.
This means simple form is more frequently used than continuous form because all verbs can be used in the simple mode.

As fas as "like" is concernd, no, Annick because "like" has no dynamic sense. It can only be used in the simple mode. But like can take the infiinitive or the gerund with a difference in meaning:
I like to drink coffee (infinitive).
I like drinking coffee (gerund).

From the example (these days) you gave I understand you are referring to a temporary action. This would be possible if the verb were dynamic or had a dynamic sense. Sometimes some verbs might develop a dynamic sense later as with "hope" but I have never seen "like" used in a dynamic sense so far even when we are talking about temporary present events. So you have to use another verb such as "drink" instead: I am drinking wine these days or I like drinking wine (gerund: habitual or factual).

Regards
Jamshid