Stative vs Dynamic Verbs: Temporary vs Permanent State (C1)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

My mother patient by nature — she rarely gets angry. (be)

Correct answer: is

"By nature" frames "patient" as a permanent trait → simple "is". The progressive "is being" would mean temporary behaviour, contradicting "by nature".

Don't pay attention to him — he deliberately annoying today. (be)

Correct answer: is being

"Today" + "deliberately annoying" signals temporary behaviour → progressive "is being". The simple "is" would describe a permanent trait, which "today" rules out.

Even at 90, my grandfather extremely sharp mentally. (be)

Correct answer: is

A long-standing characteristic ("even at 90") → stative simple "is". The progressive "is being" would suggest temporary behaviour, which contradicts the lifelong frame.

I don't know why he so secretive tonight — he's usually open. (be)

Correct answer: is being

"Tonight" + the contrast with "usually open" signals temporary behaviour → progressive "is being". The simple "is" would describe a permanent trait, which the contrast deliberately resists.

Sara generous to a fault — she'd give you her last meal. (be)

Correct answer: is

"Generous to a fault" describes a permanent character trait → stative simple "is". The progressive "is being" would mean temporary behaviour, undercutting the generalisation.

The twins normally play well together, but this morning they impossible. (be)

Correct answer: are being

A contrast between "normally" and "this morning" signals temporary behaviour → progressive "are being". The simple "are" would describe a permanent trait, which the contrast rules out.

This neighborhood surprisingly quiet for a city centre. (be)

Correct answer: is

A general characterisation of a place ("for a city centre") → stative simple "is". A neighbourhood cannot exhibit temporary "behaviour", so the progressive doesn't fit.

Stop it — you silly! That's not like you at all. (be)

Correct answer: are being

"That's not like you at all" frames the silliness as a one-off behaviour, not a trait → progressive "are being". The simple "are" would describe a permanent characteristic, which the contrast rules out.

My boss a stickler for detail, which can be exhausting at deadline. (be)

Correct answer: is

A general characterisation of personality ("a stickler for detail") → stative simple "is". The progressive "is being" would imply temporary behaviour, undercutting the trait.

Don't blame her — she extra careful with the family heirloom right now. (be)

Correct answer: is being

"Right now" + "extra careful" signals deliberate, situation-specific behaviour → progressive "is being". The simple "is" would describe her general character, missing the present-moment care.

Despite all the gossip, our new neighbour a perfectly decent person. (be)

Correct answer: is

A general personality judgement → stative simple "is". The progressive "is being" would describe momentary behaviour, which doesn't fit a defence against general gossip.

Mark uncharacteristically defensive in today's meeting — something must have happened. (be)

Correct answer: is being

"Uncharacteristically" + "in today's meeting" pins the behaviour to a single occasion → progressive "is being". The simple "is" would describe a stable trait, which "uncharacteristically" deliberately rules out.

Cats naturally curious about new objects in their territory. (be)

Correct answer: are

A general trait of an entire group ("cats … naturally") → stative simple "are". The progressive "are being" would mean temporary behaviour, which generic statements don't take.

The audience unusually quiet during the second act, which is strange. (be)

Correct answer: is being

"Unusually" + a specific time frame signals deviation from the norm → progressive "is being". The simple "is" would state a fact without the marked-behaviour flavour the sentence carries.

Lentils remarkably high in protein for a plant food. (be)

Correct answer: are

An inherent property of a food → stative simple "are". Foods don't have behaviour, so the progressive "are being" is structurally impossible here.

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

My mother patient by nature — she rarely gets angry. (be)

Correct answer: is

"By nature" frames "patient" as a permanent trait → simple "is". The progressive "is being" would mean temporary behaviour, contradicting "by nature".

Don't pay attention to him — he deliberately annoying today. (be)

Correct answer: is being

"Today" + "deliberately annoying" signals temporary behaviour → progressive "is being". The simple "is" would describe a permanent trait, which "today" rules out.

Even at 90, my grandfather extremely sharp mentally. (be)

Correct answer: is

A long-standing characteristic ("even at 90") → stative simple "is". The progressive "is being" would suggest temporary behaviour, which contradicts the lifelong frame.

I don't know why he so secretive tonight — he's usually open. (be)

Correct answer: is being

"Tonight" + the contrast with "usually open" signals temporary behaviour → progressive "is being". The simple "is" would describe a permanent trait, which the contrast deliberately resists.

Sara generous to a fault — she'd give you her last meal. (be)

Correct answer: is

"Generous to a fault" describes a permanent character trait → stative simple "is". The progressive "is being" would mean temporary behaviour, undercutting the generalisation.

The twins normally play well together, but this morning they impossible. (be)

Correct answer: are being

A contrast between "normally" and "this morning" signals temporary behaviour → progressive "are being". The simple "are" would describe a permanent trait, which the contrast rules out.

This neighborhood surprisingly quiet for a city centre. (be)

Correct answer: is

A general characterisation of a place ("for a city centre") → stative simple "is". A neighbourhood cannot exhibit temporary "behaviour", so the progressive doesn't fit.

Stop it — you silly! That's not like you at all. (be)

Correct answer: are being

My boss a stickler for detail, which can be exhausting at deadline. (be)

Correct answer: is

A general characterisation of personality ("a stickler for detail") → stative simple "is". The progressive "is being" would imply temporary behaviour, undercutting the trait.

Don't blame her — she extra careful with the family heirloom right now. (be)

Correct answer: is being

"Right now" + "extra careful" signals deliberate, situation-specific behaviour → progressive "is being". The simple "is" would describe her general character, missing the present-moment care.

Despite all the gossip, our new neighbour a perfectly decent person. (be)

Correct answer: is

A general personality judgement → stative simple "is". The progressive "is being" would describe momentary behaviour, which doesn't fit a defence against general gossip.

Mark uncharacteristically defensive in today's meeting — something must have happened. (be)

Correct answer: is being

Cats naturally curious about new objects in their territory. (be)

Correct answer: are

A general trait of an entire group ("cats … naturally") → stative simple "are". The progressive "are being" would mean temporary behaviour, which generic statements don't take.

The audience unusually quiet during the second act, which is strange. (be)

Correct answer: is being

"Unusually" + a specific time frame signals deviation from the norm → progressive "is being". The simple "is" would state a fact without the marked-behaviour flavour the sentence carries.

Lentils remarkably high in protein for a plant food. (be)

Correct answer: are

An inherent property of a food → stative simple "are". Foods don't have behaviour, so the progressive "are being" is structurally impossible here.

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.