Nicht vergessen: Regeln sind Leitlinien – sie sind nur selten absolut.

State Verbs as Gerunds – Mixed Verbs

State Verbs as Gerunds

Know, Have, Own, Believe, Need, Taste, Understand, Belong, Hope, Owe, Want, Sound, Love, Involve

Grammar Explanation

Some verbs describe a state, not an action. These verbs often describe knowledge, possession, feelings, senses, opinions, relationships, or inclusion. Examples are know, have, own, believe, need, taste, understand, belong, hope, owe, want, sound, love, involve.

State verbs are usually used in the Simple Present. However, they can also appear as gerunds, where the -ing form acts like a noun or idea.

Common Mistakes:
❌ I am knowing the answer.
✅ I know the answer.

❌ She is wanting a new car.
✅ She wants a new car.
State Verb Gerund German Meaning
knowknowingwissen / kennen
havehavinghaben
ownowningbesitzen
believebelievingglauben
needneedingbrauchen
tastetastingschmecken / probieren
understandunderstandingverstehen
belongbelonginggehören
hopehopinghoffen
oweowingschulden
wantwantingwollen
soundsoundingklingen
lovelovinglieben
involveinvolvingbeinhalten
Important:
✅ I know the answer. = correct state verb
✅ Knowing the answer helped me. = correct gerund

✅ She loves music. = correct state verb
✅ Loving music can reduce stress. = correct gerund
Score: 0 / 25

1. I ______ that secret.
a) know
b) knowing [Ich kenne dieses Geheimnis.]

2. ______ the truth can sometimes be difficult.
a) Knows
b) Knowing [Die Wahrheit zu kennen kann manchmal schwierig sein.]

3. She ______ a headache today.
a) has
b) having [Sie hat heute Kopfschmerzen.]

4. ______ enough time makes learning easier.
a) Has
b) Having [Genug Zeit zu haben macht das Lernen einfacher.]

5. He ______ that book.
a) owns
b) owning [Er besitzt dieses Buch.]

6. ______ a house is expensive today.
a) Owns
b) Owning [Ein Haus zu besitzen ist heute teuer.]

7. They ______ your story.
a) believe
b) believing [Sie glauben deine Geschichte.]

8. ______ in yourself is important.
a) Believes
b) Believing [An sich selbst zu glauben ist wichtig.]

9. I ______ a vacation.
a) need
b) needing [Ich brauche Urlaub.]

10. ______ rest can improve your health.
a) Needs
b) Needing [Ruhe zu brauchen kann die Gesundheit verbessern.]

11. This soup ______ too salty.
a) tastes
b) tasting [Diese Suppe schmeckt zu salzig.]

12. ______ new food can be exciting.
a) Tastes
b) Tasting [Neues Essen zu probieren kann spannend sein.]

13. I ______ what you mean.
a) understand
b) understanding [Ich verstehe, was du meinst.]

14. ______ difficult ideas takes time.
a) Understands
b) Understanding [Schwierige Ideen zu verstehen braucht Zeit.]

15. The bag ______ to me.
a) belongs
b) belonging [Die Tasche gehört mir.]

16. ______ to a good team feels motivating.
a) Belongs
b) Belonging [Zu einem guten Team zu gehören fühlt sich motivierend an.]

17. We ______ for good news.
a) hope
b) hoping [Wir hoffen auf gute Nachrichten.]

18. ______ for success keeps people motivated.
a) Hopes
b) Hoping [Auf Erfolg zu hoffen hält Menschen motiviert.]

19. He ______ me an explanation.
a) owes
b) owing [Er schuldet mir eine Erklärung.]

20. ______ someone an apology is sometimes necessary.
a) Owes
b) Owing [Jemandem eine Entschuldigung zu schulden ist manchmal notwendig.]

21. I ______ to tell you the truth.
a) want
b) wanting [Ich möchte dir die Wahrheit sagen.]

22. ______ success is completely natural.
a) Wants
b) Wanting [Erfolg zu wollen ist völlig natürlich.]

23. It ______ like a good idea.
a) sounds
b) sounding [Es klingt wie eine gute Idee.]

24. ______ confident helps during interviews.
a) Sounds
b) Sounding [Selbstbewusst zu klingen hilft bei Vorstellungsgesprächen.]

25. I ______ chocolate.
a) love
b) loving [Ich liebe Schokolade.]