Rules and Usage – Non Action Verbs

 In Verb Tenses

Non-action verbs or non action verbs do NOT express an action, but represent a state of being, need, opinion, sense, or preference.

What is a non action verb?

Examples are the “be” verbs: am, are, was, were, is, has been, and had.

Commonly used non action verbs are love, forget , need ,think,  appear, seem, possess, decide, imagine, and sound, hope, try.
I love flowers.
She needs milk.
She appears confused.
It seems cooked.
They own the lot.
I hope we reach home soon.
I will decide the outcome.
You cannot DO flowers, (or milk, confused, cooked, etc.)  You cannot DO any of these thing, therefore all these sentences are using non-action verbs.

Some non-action verbs, used in a different context, can be used as action verbs. Think can mean the active function of thinking of considering , or it can mean to believe, having an opinion about
What do you think of the view?  Non action
I am thinking of taking a holiday.  Action
I will decide tomorrow.  Non action
I will decide the outcome. Action

Here are some non action verbs groups from this great blog for ESL learners:
Emotions:  admire, care, dislike, doubt, envy, fear, hate, hope, like, love
Mental States:  think, understand, know, believe, guess, hope, mean
Wants/Preferences:  want, wish, need, prefer, desire
Possession:  own, have, contain, belong
Appearance:  look, appear, seem
Value:  cost, equal, signify
Perception:  feel, hear, see, smell, taste, sound, look, notice
State of being:  be, exist

Non-action verbs or non action words do NOT express an action, but represent a state of being, need, opinion, sense, or preference.

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