State Verbs and Changing Meanings

What you’ll learn

Recognize common state verbs and their activity meanings.

ប្រើកិរិយាសព្ទបង្ហាញសភាព និងសកម្មភាពតាមន័យ។

Meaning and use

Verbs such as know, own, and need usually describe states and use simple forms. Some verbs change meaning: think can mean believe or consider; have can mean possess or take part in an activity. Do not assume every verb has only one possible form.

កិរិយាសព្ទបង្ហាញសភាព ដូចជា know និង own ជាទូទៅមិនប្រើទម្រង់ continuous ទេ។ ប៉ុន្តែ think និង have អាចប្រើ continuous ពេលបង្ហាញសកម្មភាព។

Grammar patterns

Pattern	Example or form
State or belief	I know the answer. / I think it is useful.
Activity	I am thinking about the offer. / We are having lunch.

Examples

1. I need a new notebook.

   ខ្ញុំត្រូវការសៀវភៅកត់ត្រាថ្មីមួយ។

2. She owns a small shop.

   នាងជាម្ចាស់ហាងតូចមួយ។

3. We are having lunch now.

   ឥឡូវនេះ យើងកំពុងញ៉ាំអាហារថ្ងៃត្រង់។

4. I am thinking about your suggestion.

   ខ្ញុំកំពុងពិចារណាសំណើរបស់អ្នក។

Everyday conversation

Dara: Do you think the course is useful?

Maly: Yes, but I am thinking about taking the evening class.

Common mistakes

Instead of	Use	Why
I am knowing his name.	I know his name.	Know normally describes a state, so use the simple form.
She is having two brothers.	She has two brothers.	Have expresses a family relationship here, not an activity.

Practice

Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.

សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។

1. Choose: I (believe / am believing) you.
2. Complete: Please wait. We ___ (have) dinner.
3. Does I am thinking about moving mean I have already decided?

Answers and explanations

Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ

1. believe

   Belief is a state in this ordinary use.

2. are having

   Have dinner is an activity in progress.

3. No. It means I am considering moving.

   Think about in this use describes a mental activity, not a fixed opinion.

Quick recap

• State or belief: I know the answer. / I think it is useful.
• Activity: I am thinking about the offer. / We are having lunch.