stative (adj./n.) (stat, STAT)

A term used in grammatical classification referring to one of two main aspectual categories of verb use, the other being dynamic. The distinguishing criteria for stativity are mainly syntactic; for example, stative, static or state verbs do not usually occur in a progressive form (e.g. *I am knowing, *He is concerning), nor in the imperative (e.g. *know!). On semantic grounds, they can be said to express states of affairs, rather than actions, i.e. the expression of relational processes (e.g. be, belong to, involve, seem) or of inactive perceptual or cognitive processes (e.g. know, mean, realize, suppose). The classification is complicated by the existence of verbs which have both a stative and a dynamic use, e.g. smell.