Difference between Action and Non-action Verbs.

Zen: You were planning to join some Public Speaking Course since your communication skills are weak.

Sam: Yeah, you right.
I am planning to join.

Zen: Which institute?

Sam: Wabs Talk, It seems to be one of the best institutes for Soft Skills Training.

Zen: I think, you are right.

In the above conversation, both action and non-action verbs are used. Now, the question arises that can we use non-action or stative verbs in the present progressive tense and the answer is a complete ‘no’.

In the following article, we are not only going to figure out the difference between action and non-action verbs but also sensitise you that why can’t non-action verbs be used in the present progressive tense.

Verbs to Express Action

Action words, or action verbs, simply express an action. The action is something the subject of the sentence or clause is doing and includes sleeping, sitting, and napping-so even though there is no movement, there is still an action. Other examples are:

Crawl
Decorate
Jump
Haunt
Kick
Entertain
Walk
Follow
Growl
Yell
Listen
Eat

Verbs to Express Being

Non-action words, or non-action verbs, do not refer to the action as such, but represent a state of being, need, opinion, sense, or preference. Examples are the “be” verbs, like: am, are, was, were, is, has been, and had. Referring to the senses, some non-action words are: look, smell, feel, taste, and sound.

More examples of non-action words are:

prefer
like
love
want
need
appear
seem
possess
belong
believe
consider
own

Following are few more sentences based on action verbs for better clarification of non-action verbs.

Mr. Sam is seeming like a nice guy. (Wrong)
Mr. Sam seems like a nice guy. (Correct)

This salad is tasting delicious. (Wrong)
This salad tastes delicious. (Correct)

I am liking Wabs Talk. (Wrong)
I like Wabs Talk. (Correct)