Anglais > Grammaire > Verbes > Verbes d'état
La
plupart des verbes font référence
à une action
(un processus), par exemple work = travailler. Mais certains verbes
font référence à un état.
Voici les plus courants :
| Etat - apparence | Sens | Sentiments | Activités mentales | |
| be* = être | see* = voir | like = aimer (bien) | know = savoir | remember = se souvenir |
| have* = avoir | hear* = entendre | love = aimer (adore) | think = penser |
suppose = supposer |
| look* = sembler | smell* = sentir (odeur) | dislike = ne pas aimer | understand = understand | doubt = douter |
| seem = sembler | prefer = préférer | believe = croire | recognise = reconnaître | |
| taste* = avoir le goût de | Autre verbe | hate = détester, haïr | feel* = croire | mean = signifier |
| sound = sembler (son) | need = avoir besoin de | fear = craindre | want = vouloir | wish = souhaiter |
A
la différence des verbes d'action,
les verbes d'état ne peuvent généralement pas se conjuguer dans
un temps de be + Ving :
He is working. =
Il est en train de travailler. mais He
is knowing.
= Il est en train de savoir.
* Cependant, certains de ces verbes peuvent se conjuguer dans un temps de be + Ving au prix d'un changement de sens :
He is
stupid = il est stupide / He is being
stupid
= il fait l'imbécile / We're
being watched = on nous observe (auxiliaire du passif).
He has a
car
= il a une voiture / he is having breakfast/a
shower = il prend son petit-déjeuner / une douche
he looks
tired
(+ adjectif) = il semble fatigué / He is
looking at/for/after
his car. = il regarde/cherche/s’occupe de sa voiture
It tastes good
(+ adjectif) = ça a bon goût / They
are tasting the cheeses = Ils goûtent les fromages.
He thinks
that you’re right = il pense
que tu as raison / He is thinking about the
question/of moving. = il
réfléchit à la question/il envisage de déménager
Do you see
what I mean ? = Tu vois
ce que je veux dire ? / He is seeing his boss tomorrow.
= il voit/rencontre son patron demain
I feel that it's true.
= Je crois que c'est vrai. / I'm
feeling fine. = Je me sens bien.
Rappel : Les temps de be + Ving :
| be + Ving | Simple | Perfect |
| Present | I am working | I have been working |
| Past | I was working | I had been working |
Put
the verbs (in brackets) into the
simple present or the present continuous. Add a preposition if
necessary.
They (not-look) .........................................funny.
She (look) .........................................her car.
He (think) .........................................that you’re wrong.
(you-think) .........................................changing school ?
He (be) .........................................stupid. He (not
understand).
They (be) .........................................stupid to annoy
their teacher .
(she-see) .........................................her secretary at the
moment ?
(you-see) .........................................what I (mean)
.........................................?