Is the word find a verb

• #1

Hello,
Is «Find» a stative verb? Why is it a stative verb?
Can say I am not finding it. or I don’t find it.
Thanks.

• #2

Neither of these is common. The usual form is I can’t find it.Neither of these is common.

You might use I don’t find it in the «historic present». (If you haven’t learnt what that is yet, don’t worry about it!)

Last edited: Mar 19, 2012

• #3

Really, Teddy?

I don’t find it

at all strange to use I’m not finding it. But it all depends on context; these only work when the meaning is «to experience a reaction»,

not

«to discover an object».

I am not finding it at all hard to live in India.
But I don’t find it easy to understand the accent.
Where’s your house? I am not finding it/I don’t find it.
Where’s your house? I can’t find it.

• #4

Hello,
Is «Find» a stative verb? Why is it a stative verb?
Thanks.

It’s a stative verb because it describes the result of an action, and not an action itself. Verbs for the action in this connection are, for example, «to look for/ to seek» (and as a result of the action, you may «find»…).

Edit: Just seen KB’s post. KB is referring to 2 different senses of «find», and that may add complexity

• #5

I’m not finding it hard and I’m not finding it easy are an entirely different issue from what Rihan asked about, which is I’m not finding it full stop.

• #6

KB’s examples in post 3 are relevant, because they show how the present tense of ‘find’ can correctly be used.
The important message for the learner is that, apart from cases like KB’s examples with the green tick, you cannot normally use ‘find’ in the present tense.
In cases unlike KB’s examples with the green tick, you can correctly say ‘I have found it’, but not ‘I find it’ or ‘I’m finding it’.

Last edited: Mar 19, 2012

• #7

…In cases unlike KB’s examples with the green tick, you can correctly say ‘I have found it’, but not ‘I find it’ or ‘I’m finding it’.

Well, nearly. Usually, when I search for the appropriate example, I find it. Here I was a bit too hasty.

(PS: I’d never until now heard of a stative verb.)

• #8

Usually, when I search for the appropriate example, I find it.

Yes, quite right. I was a bit too hasty.

• #9

(PS: I’d never until now heard of a stative verb.)

«Stative verbs» describe a state as opposed to an action. This word is used often in languages where verbs can be either type. In English, «stative verbs» tend to be adjectives rather than verbs, and that is the reason we don’t hear of it very often. As an example, you can take the word «understand» as a stative verb.

• #10

Really, Teddy?

I don’t find it

at all strange to use I’m not finding it. But it all depends on context; these only work when the meaning is «to experience a reaction»,

not

«to discover an object».

I am not finding it at all hard to live in India.
But I don’t find it easy to understand the accent.
Where’s your house? I am not finding it/I don’t find it.
Where’s your house? I can’t find it.

The present tense of find is used in its sense suggesting a habit easily enough, isn’t it?

You find it by driving North for three miles
You don’t find it by driving North for two miles

I suspect it’s in its once-off sense that we switch to I can’t find it.

• #11

Hello,
Is «Find» a stative verb? Why is it a stative verb?
Can say I am not finding it. or I don’t find it.
Thanks.

Rihan, what do you mean by a static verb?

I went to London for three months.
I left Jane for three years.
I coudn’t find the cat for thirty years.

• #12

I wanted to point out that, in AE at least, «finding» generally doesn’t happen, but «not finding» does. If I’m looking for something and it’s not turning up, I can say «I’m not finding» that thing. This happens a lot on the phone.

«I’ve been looking for his file for ten minutes, but I’m not finding it anywhere.»
«Hey, I’m checking for your wallet in the bag you wore yesterday, but I’m not finding it in here.»
«That makes half an hour I’ve been driving around this block looking for her office. I’m just not finding it.» (pace KB)

• #13

Rihan, you wll use static verbs such as understand and find when you’ve got in a different state of mind than before, especially when it wasn’t expected.

«I’ve been looking for his file for ten minutes, but I’m not finding it anywhere.»

This, as illustrated by lucas, is a good example, I think.

• #14

When it is expected, Coolie, it’s called a dynamic verb. I’m only teasing.

Cagey

post mod (English Only / Latin)

• #15

Rihan, what do you mean by a static verb?
[…]

We do call them stative verbs, coolieinblue, though perhaps people use ‘static’.

• #16

I wanted to point out that, in AE at least, «finding» generally doesn’t happen, but «not finding» does. If I’m looking for something and it’s not turning up, I can say «I’m not finding» that thing. This happens a lot on the phone.

It may be hard to think of examples of this in the non-figurative sense, but the COCA has plenty: e.g.

The news-copters are finding bodies on neighboring farms. Not just people but livestock.
It’s very optimistic. We are finding common ground, making progress on the differences.
I am finding active community — and thus, a caring, sustaining environment…
I am finding my answers from Buddha in the ground, not the heavens.
We are finding early ancestors that we never expected to see in the fossil record.
The patrols are interrupting the work of the saboteurs, and sometimes the soldiers are finding half-assembled bombs.

There are a great many others. Maybe I’ve missed the point again.

• #17

We do call them stative verbs, coolieinblue, though perhaps people use ‘static’.

Cagey, thank you for the correction

• #18

I am confused!
Is the verb find a stative verb or not?
She was finding a book in the library.

Is this sentence correct?

• #19

Is the verb find a stative verb or not?

Like many or most verbs, it is sometimes stative and sometimes dynamic
— dynamic when (as here) it means seeking
— stative when it means hold an opinion.

• #20

Thanks.
So, is this sentence grammatically correct?

She was finding a book in the library.

• #21

I don’t think it’s correct. You should write either «She was searching for/looking for a book in the library» (if that’s what you mean), or «She found a book in the library».

• #22

Thanks,
but according to the definition in post #19, it means «seeking» so it is a dynamic (action) verb and can get the -ing.

Why finding in that sentence is not correct?

Would you please give me and example of the verb find which is used in the progressive form (e.g., present continuous as the main verb of the sentence)?

dynamic when (as here) it means seeking

• #23

Find doesn’t exactly mean seek. It’s actually the outcome of seeking (= searching or looking for something). But you can use it in a similar sense, provided it properly fits the context. For example:

Bookshop customer: I asked for the book I ordered over the phone, but the man who was serving me has disappeared.
Shop assistant: He won’t be long. He’s in the stockroom finding it for you right now.​

• #24

Find doesn’t exactly mean seek. It’s actually the outcome of seeking (= searching or looking for something). But you can use it in a similar sense, provided it properly fits the context. For example:

Bookshop customer: I asked for the book I ordered over the phone, but the man who was serving me has disappeared.
Shop assistant: He won’t be long. He’s in the stockroom finding it for you right now.​

How is «find» in that sentence different from «She was finding a book in the library», please?

• #25

Find doesn’t exactly mean seek. It’s actually the outcome of seeking (= searching or looking for something). But you can use it in a similar sense, provided it properly fits the context. For example:

Bookshop customer: I asked for the book I ordered over the phone, but the man who was serving me has disappeared.
Shop assistant: He won’t be long. He’s in the stockroom finding it for you right now.​

How is «find» in that sentence different from «She was finding a book in the library», please?

• #26

If I’m looking for something for a customer, and I’m sure that it’s there (or I want to reassure the customer), then I might talk about finding it. That means «I will look for it

and

I will succeed». It’s a boast, not yet a statement of fact.

• #27

If I’m looking for something for a customer, and I’m sure that it’s there (or I want to reassure the customer), then I might talk about finding it. That means «I will look for it

and

I will succeed». It’s a boast, not yet a statement of fact.

Thanks a lot for the good explanation

What is a verb?

Verb Meaning / Definition

A verb is a doing word that shows an action, an event or a state. A sentence may either have a main verb, a helping verb or both. In other words, a verb is a word that informs about an action, an existence of something or an occurrence. The verb is the main word in a sentence. No sentence can be completed without a verb.

The word ‘verb’ derived from the Latin word ‘verbum‘.

Types of Verbs

1. Main Verbs (or Action Verbs)
2. Helping Verbs
3. Linking Verbs
4. – Transitive Verbs
5. – Intransitive Verbs

Main Verbs or Action Verbs

Main verbs or action verbs are used to express action; something that an animal, a person or a thing does. In each of the following sentences, we only have a main verb.

• The sun shines.
• The horse neighs.
• The monkey jumps.

Helping Verbs

As the name suggests, helping verbs help or support the main verb.

• We are learning about helping verbs. (are: helping verb; learning: main verb)
• We are in the Green House Club. (are: helping verb)
• You should complete the work by tomorrow. (should: helping verb; complete: main verb)

State of Being Verbs (Linking Verbs)

State of Being verbs state that something ‘is’. State of being verbs also known as linking verbs. Linking verbs explain a link between the subject of the sentence and a noun or adjective being linked to it.

List of Example Sentences

• The flowers are bright.
• Diamond is the hardest substance.
• I feel scared.

Understanding Verbs

The words: am, is, are, was, and were, belong to the verb “to be”. We use ‘am’ or ‘was’ with the pronoun ‘I’. We use ‘is’ or ‘was’ when the subject of the sentence is singular. We use ‘are’ or ‘were’ when the subject of the sentence is plural.

List of Example Sentences

1. I was late for school yesterday.
2. I am twelve years old.
3. She is a wonderful singer.
4. These questions are difficult.
5. He was planning to meet the doctor.
6. The Hollywood actors are famous.
7. They were winners last year.
8. It is a great feeling to win the trophy.

We use ‘is‘ with singular nouns and pronouns ‘he, she, it‘.

List of Example Sentences

1. My school is near my house.
2. This restaurant is closing down.
3. She is writing a postcard.
4. Dog is a faithful animal.
5. Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
6. He is acting strange today.

We use ‘are‘ with plural nouns and pronouns ‘we, you, they‘.

List of Example Sentences

1. The balloons are colourful.
2. They are best friends.
3. The kites are flying high in the sky.
4. They are planning to go by train.
5. We are going to win the match.
6. You are writing so untidily!

We use ‘are‘ when we join two or more nouns.

List of Example Sentences

1. John and Sam are brothers.
2. Joseph and we are neighbours.
3. Anne and Sue are enjoying the play.
4. Sharon and Jenny are competing for the gold medal.
5. Mrs. and Mr. Lee are planning to visit New Zealand.

Subject-Verb Agreement

It is very important to take care of the subject and verb agreement while framing a sentence. It is very important that a verb must be compatible and agree with its subject to make a correct and valid sentence.

Let us understand with the help of an example.

If we write:

• Phil is playing with a ball. (Correct)!
• Phil are playing with a ball. (Incorrect) X

In the first sentence, the subject (Phil) is singular, so we need a singular verb (is playing). The sentence is correct. In the second sentence, the subject (Phil) is singular, but the verb is plural (are playing). The sentence is incorrect.

Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule 1 – Subject-Verb agreement with a singular noun
If the subject is a singular noun or a pronoun (he, I, she, it), we must ensure that we use a singular verb to write a correct sentence.

List of Example Sentences

1. She is playing the guitar.
2. The postman is asking for your signature.
3. The movie has caught everyone’s attention.
4. Does he know the minister well?
5. She is cheering the team.
6. He enjoys music.
7. My mom drives carefully.
8. The moon revolves round the earth.
9. Is it raining?

Rule 2 – Subject-Verb agreement with plural noun
If the subject is plural (we, they, those, you), we need a plural verb to write a correct sentence.

List of Example Sentences

1. The boys were dancing in the corridor.
2. The children are playing in the garden.
3. The students were writing their exam.
4. Two of our girls have won the quiz.
5. We have finished our homework.
6. Both the boys have worked hard.
7. Philip and Luke are swimming.
8. The teachers are correcting the answer sheets.
9. Farmers work in the fields.

Rule 3 – Subject-Verb agreement with collective nouns
The collective nouns are considered as singular. We use singular verbs with them.

List of Example Sentences

1. The crowd was very noisy.
2. Our team has to win the match.
3. The audience is having a gala time.
4. The band is playing the school song.
5. The choir is singing beautifully.
6. My family is from Poland.
7. Our cricket team is the best in the whole town.
8. A bouquet of flowers was presented to the chief guest.

Rule 4 – Subject-Verb agreement with ‘either/or’ or ‘neither/nor’
The verb must agree with the noun or the pronoun that is closer to ‘either/or’ or ‘neither/nor’.

List of Example Sentences

1. Neither he nor I am guilty.
2. Neither Bob nor his friends want the party.
3. Either you or your sister is telling a lie.
4. Either Nancy or Mary is typing the letter.
5. Neither Julia nor her parents know the way to the passport office.

Rule 5 – Subject-Verb agreement with indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns like ‘nobody’, ‘everybody’, ‘someone’, ‘somebody’, ‘one’ are always singular.

List of Example Sentences

1. Everybody is liking the new car.
2. Someone is calling for you.
3. Nobody is allowed to enter that room.
4. Everybody likes Mrs. Ola, the new History teacher.
5. One of the passengers was asking for tomato soup.
6. Somebody is knocking at the door.

Rule 6
We use singular verbs for uncountable nouns.

List of Example Sentences

1. There is sufficient food in the refrigerator.
2. Cold weather is a problem in this part of the country.
3. Sugar is yet to get over in the container.
4. Salt is obtained from sea water.
5. Milk with cornflakes is one of my favourite breakfast options.

Rule 7
A plural noun takes a singular verb when it is a name such as Paris, China, Arabian Nights, and so on.

1. China is the most densely populated country.
2. Norway is a very cold country.
3. ‘The Power of Positive Talk’ is a good book.

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Types of Action Verbs

There are two types of action verbs:

1. Transitive Verbs
2. Intransitive Verbs

Transitive Verbs

A transitive verb expresses an action directed towards a person, place or thing. The action expressed by a transitive verb passes from the doer or the subject to the receiver of the action. Words that receive the action of a transitive verb are called objects.

For example:

1. The teacher made the question paper.
2. Peter cut the cake.

In the above two sentences, we can see that the words in green colour ‘the question paper‘ and ‘the cake‘ complete the sense of the sentence or work as objects. The two sentences would not make complete sense without the objects.

1. The teacher made ……………….. what? (the question paper)
2. Peter cut ……………….. what? (the cake)

In the above sentences, the verbs ‘made‘ and ‘cut‘ are transitive verbs. A transitive verb needs a direct object to complete its meaning.

Example Sentences of Transitive Verb

1. Birds have feathers.
2. The teacher praised the pupil.
3. She is eating a pear.
4. I like English.
5. They are playing football.
6. The potter has made a beautiful pot.
7. Dennis bought a bicycle.
8. She is writing an essay.

Intransitive Verbs

A verb which does not need an object to make complete sense is called an intransitive verb. An intransitive verb expresses action (or tells something about the subject) without the action passing to a receiver or object. It can stand alone in the predicate because its meaning is complete.

Example Sentences of Intransitive Verb

1. Mr. Becker jogs every day.
2. The wicked hunter was hiding.
3. Anne looks very beautiful.
4. Mr. John speaks loudly.
5. The ship sank rapidly.
6. The department store opens at six o’clock.
7. Mr. Ben is driving carefully.
8. The wind blew strongly.

Interesting Grammar Facts about Verbs

To determine if a verb is transitive, ask yourself ‘Who?’ or ‘What?’ after the verb. If you can find an answer in the sentence, the verb is transitive.

Some verbs are always intransitive, such as: to snore or to fall. It is incorrect to say: She snores her nose.

For example: She snores a lot. In this example ‘a lot’ is not an object but an adverb. It doesn’t represent what the person snores but rather how or how much she snores.

Some verbs are always transitive, such as to recognise or to merit. It is somewhat incorrect to say: “Ah, yes, I recognise” or she certainly does merit.

Double Object

Some transitive verbs have two objects. Those things that you do for someone or you give to someone are called direct objects. The person who receives the thing is called the indirect object.

Examples of Double Object

1. The manager gave her the money.
2. Mother is reading Michael a story.
3. Nancy baked a cake for me.
4. Can you fetch me a cup and a plate?

In above examples:

• Verbs: ‘gave, reading, baked and fetch’.
• Indirect object: ‘her, Michael, me, me’.
• Direct object: ‘money, story, cake, cup and a plate’.