Shadowing Practice: State verbs made simple – a Mini English Lesson - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Why do English teachers hate McDonald's?
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Okay, so maybe we're not hating it but we are definitely not loving it.
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Some of us might be liking it and I suppose overall we're probably being okay with it.
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Did you notice anything strange about the verbs in that sentence?
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I used them all in the continuous form but I shouldn't really have done that because they're state verbs.
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This means that they should be in the simple form and not the continuous form with ing.
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And that's why so many English teachers were upset when McDonald's started using their famous slogan, I'm loving it.
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State verbs are also known as stative or non -action verbs.
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The clue is in the name.
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These verbs are not actions and so we don't use them in the continuous form.
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State verbs fall into four main categories.
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Thoughts and opinions like agree, know, think and understand.
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Feelings and emotions like love, hate, prefer and want.
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Senses and perceptions be, appear and seem.
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And possessions and measurements have, possess, measure and way.
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When these verbs describe states and not actions, we don't use them in the continuous form.
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Simple, right?
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But the tricky thing is that many of these verbs can also be used to describe actions.
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And then we can use them in the continuous form because they are action verbs.
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For example, you could say, I think Pride and Prejudice is one of the best books ever written.
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And you'd be right, for two reasons.
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Firstly, because you use the simple form of think.
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It's an opinion, so a non -action verb.
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And secondly, because Pride and Prejudice is pure genius.
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So of course you're right.
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However, you could also say, I'm thinking about going on a Jane Austen -themed holiday.
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Write again.
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Here, thinking is an action.
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It's something you're doing right now and you haven't decided yet.
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So you use the continuous form.
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And obviously, that holiday is absolutely the right choice.
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I will see you there.
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Another example is see.
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When it means understand, use it in the simple form as a state verb.
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Oh, I see your point.
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The same goes for when it means perceive, like, do you see that beautiful bird over there?
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It's a perception, so it's a state verb.
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However, we also use see in the continuous to refer to plans, like, I'm seeing Olivia Rodrigo in concert next week.
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Jealous?
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That's an action, so it's continuous.
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Seeing in the continuous form is also used for dating or romantic relationships.
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Once I had a very confusing conversation with a friend who speaks English as a second language.
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He asked me, are you still seeing Anna?
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And I replied, no, Anna is my friend, not my girlfriend.
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We were both really confused until I realized that he meant, do you still see Anna?
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Do you and Anna still meet regularly?
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In this case, choosing between the simple and the continuous form actually changes the meaning of the sentence.
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Another example of when the meaning changes is with the verb be.
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What's the difference between you're so annoying and you're being so annoying?
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In the first one, when I use the simple form, I mean you're annoying all the time.
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It's just your personality.
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In the second one, in the continuous form, it's a temporary action.
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You're being annoying right now, but I expect it to stop.
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Hopefully soon.
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So remember, state verbs fit into the four categories that we mentioned, but many of these verbs can also be action verbs.
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It all depends on the context.
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This is an area of the English language which is evolving and changing quite quickly, maybe because of the influence of companies like McDonald's.
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The best way to stay up to date is to make sure you watch, read and listen to as much authentic English as possible.
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So you see lots of examples of this language in context.
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You will understand how to use state verbs correctly in no time.
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And stay up to date with the language as it evolves.
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And who knows?
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Maybe one day even English teachers will be loving it.

Why Practice Speaking with This Video?

This video is a goldmine for mastering state verbs—those tricky words that describe states, not actions—and it’s perfect for shadowing technique practice. Shadowing (or shadow speech) means repeating phrases aloud as you hear them, which trains your mouth to move like a native and helps you internalize grammar naturally. The conversational tone and real-life examples (like McDonald’s slogans and dating mix-ups) make it easy to follow, so you’ll pick up how to use state verbs in context without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, practicing with this video helps you avoid common mistakes, like using “I’m lovin’ it” in formal settings—so you’ll sound confident and correct.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The video breaks down state verbs into four key categories: thoughts/opinions, feelings/emotions, senses/perceptions, and possessions/measurements. Let’s focus on three game-changing structures:

  • State vs. action verbs: “I think Pride and Prejudice is genius” (state: opinion) vs. “I’m thinking about a Jane Austen holiday” (action: active thought). This contrast shows how context flips a verb from stative to dynamic.
  • Continuous “be” for temporary behavior: “You’re being annoying” (temporary) vs. “You’re annoying” (permanent). This tiny change in tense completely shifts meaning—critical for clear communication.
  • “See” as plan/dating: “I’m seeing Olivia Rodrigo” (plan) or “Are you seeing Anna?” (dating) vs. “I see your point” (understand). Mastering these nuances prevents awkward mix-ups, like the friend who thought “seeing” just meant meeting!

Common Pronunciation Traps

Watch out for these tricky sounds in the video: - “Lovin’ it” drops the “g” in “loving” (common in casual speech), but don’t overdo it—formal contexts still use “loving.” - “Perceive” has a silent “i” (pər-SEEV), not “per-SEEVE.” - “Possessions” (puh-ZESH-uhnz) can trip you up with its double “s” and “sh” sound. Using the shadowing technique here helps you mimic the natural rhythm, so you’ll pronounce these words like a pro. For more practice, try a shadowing site that lets you slow down the audio—you’ll nail the intonation in no time.

Learning English with videos like this—paired with shadowing—makes grammar stick. You’ll not only understand state verbs but also use them fluently, whether you’re chatting with friends or writing an email. So hit play, start shadowing, and watch your speaking skills soar!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.