In case grammar, verbs are classified according to their case frames. Walter A. Cookin his book 'A case grammar matrix': Working Papers, No5 (1971b:52-53) adopted Chafe's four basic verb types which are:

Verb type

Basic Verbs

Experiencer

Benefactive

Locative

1. State

be tall

Es, O

know

Bs, O

have

Os, L

be in

2. Process

sleep

E, O

feel

B, O

acquire

O, L

move

3. Action

dance

A, E

frighten

A, B

bribe

A, L

walk

4. Action-

Process

A, O

kill

A, E, O

say

A, B, O

give

A, O, L

bring

Stative verbs refer to a state that remains the same, to a changeless situation. In English language, there are verbs that are not normality used in the continuous tense because they describe rather a state than an action. They are called Stative verbs or non- progressive verbs.

They generally fall into four groups:

1) Verbs showing thought or opinion: know, believe,â€¦..

2) Verbs showing possession: have, own, belong, possess,â€¦..

3) Verbs showing sense: hear, smell, seen,â€¦.

4) Verbs showing emotion: love, hate, want, need,â€¦..

Some verbs can be both state and action verbs depending on their meaning.

Â· I think you made a mistake. (Think = believe, state verb)

Â· I am thinking about my life now. (Think = mental process, action verb)

Â· I have two cars. (have = possess, own state verb)

Â· I am having my lunch now. (have = eat, action verb)

Â· I am seeing my friend tomorrow morning. (See = meeting with, action verb)

Â· I see what you mean. (See = understand state verb)

The most important difference between Stative and action verbs is that action verbs can be used in continuous tenses but Stative verbs cannot.

Action verbs are verbs that specifically describe what the subject of the sentence is doing. These types of verbs carry a great deal of information in a sentence and can convey emotion and a sense of purpose that extends beyond the literal meanings of the words.

The power of the action verbs lies in the meaning and intention that they bring direction and force to the sentence.

The verbs that can be used in the continuous tense are called action verbs.

Â· She is studying with Tom at the moment.

Â· They have been working since seven o'clock at night.

An action verb with a direct object is transitive while an action verb with on direct object is intransitive. Other action verbs can be transitive or intransitive, depending on what follows in the sentence.

Â· In the spring, he will run his first marathon {run transitive verb}.

Â· During his practice, he runs over hills across the river.{Runs intransitive verb}

Process verbs: are characterized by a change in the state without any reference to what caused the change to take place. Unlike the subject of an action verb, the subject of a process verb, does neither consciously nor unconsciously control the process.

Â· The house built

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