Grammar: Using stative verbs in the continuous tense

Here's a grammar question for you: is it ever OK to use state verbs in the continuous form?

Dan shows us when it is possible in this bite-sized video.

Transcript:
Hi Guys! Angelic Dan for BBC Learning English here. This week we're going to be looking at state verbs. Now, there are some verbs in English which talk about states, not actions. These are called 'state verbs' and the rules of English say that we can never ever use these verbs continuously. And we don't break the rules of English do we? Cos we're good people aren't we? Yes!

Examples of state verbs are words like: be and love and want. They usually concern feelings or possession or sensory information. Oooh - a magic potion. UGH! Lies! You can make state verbs continuous. You just have to be bad enough to bend the rules a little.

So, many so-called state verbs have two different forms – a state one and a dynamic one. Using the verb in one form or another changes its meaning. Consider: "I have a car" or "I’m having a shower". This is very apparent with the verb be which in the continuous form means 'temporarily acting'. For example, "Mike's usually so energetic: why's he being so lazy?"

We can also use the present continuous and an adverb such as always, forever and constantly to show irritation for a repeated habit that annoys us. "I’m forever understanding things too late to do anything." Or, "I know I quit, but I’m constantly wanting a cigarette."

We often make state verbs continuous for the purposes of being tentative and polite. In this way, we can make awkward questions less direct without accidentally offending the other person. This is very common in the past continuous and the future continuous. Compare: "Sorry to interrupt. I want to borrow the car." Or, "Sorry to interrupt. I was wanting to borrow the car." Or, "I’m going into town - I need some money." Or, "I’m going into town - I’ll be needing some money, so errr..."

Sometimes we deliberately use a state verb in the continuous form to emphasise a strong feeling at the moment of speaking. A certain fast food chain, which you all know about, uses this as its marketing slogan. For example, "I went to a party last night and I was loving it!" Or, "I don’t care how long the chef took to cook it. I’m not accepting that."

Finally, never forget that there are idioms and set phrases which use state verbs in the continuous form. For example, "I just don’t know what to do about this situation; it's really weighing on my mind." Or, "I’ve been seeing my partner for over six months, self-five!"

One last thing guys. We use these forms occasionally. Don’t go crazy with them, just understand that while in most cases state verbs stay in the simple form, you can break a rule or two, now and then. If you want.

Did you get it? I don't care if you got it. I'm getting a drink.

[carlosfloresherrera]

I wanted to learn more about "Stative Verbs" and I found many videos on Youtube. But definetely this one is the BEST! :) Thank you so much for made this lesson too funny, guys!

[phoebephilip]

You don't stop amazing me in every single video you make! Creative crazy energetic and informative content content as usual.

[kankal]

If he were my English teacher, my heart would like "la la la, la la la.... la."❣️Love you sir.

[lalholanda]

my heart is torb between you and Tim .. Who's the cutest?

[anynomouse]

frankly, that's my favorite video on youtube. Much love 💕

[engin]

Dear Sir ; you are full of surprises !

[englishwithbethofficial]

I think I'm a fan of angelic Dan...

[angelicagomes]

Angelic Dan! I love his classes, always so fun&funny, also instructive of course. 👏👏

[hoangkimviet]

What I learnt from this video:
- Adjectives: Constant,
- Nouns: Irratation
- Verbs: Interrupt

[lucianaalbuquerque]

Hahaha ... I loved the rule breaker version of you, Dan!

[gisellesuarez]

Dear Dan&friends, in this exercise from the British Council :
My holiday's next week. I ___ myself on the beach right now!
My answer was: "I imagine" but the system got "I am imagining" which I think it is strange...Sometimes the system has only one option, but in a real situation, are both correct? Thanks for your help! :)

[yenyangelica]

I thought " why didn't Dan iron his shirt?" And suddenly I undestand all... jajaja I love you Dan!!

[NNikolasheva]

I'm russian, this video helped me, thanks!

[knifesedgetefl]

Led Zep's "Since I been loving you" is a good example

[j.c.]

Please listen to "without accidentally offending the other person"(at 2:02)! The way you pronounce "accidentally" is very different from the way the dictionary says it.

I'm so confused now. Can you explain it to me?

[gisellesuarez]

Dear Dan&friends, I am using the verb phrase "have success", and what about this? "I am having success in understanding this lesson" I think it is perfectly fine, because it is a strong feeling at the moment of speaking, any opinions? :)

[baguiobase]

hahahaha This is very interesting lesson. Impressive lesson and method of teaching.

[aidhafez]

Really great my sir, if you please let me share ideas with your excellency, this sentence was in the general secondary exam*I my classmates for many years now 1-have known 2- have been
It was have known in the answer model depending that the verb know doesn't come in aprogressive form, but I think here we can use the verb in aprogressive form as here he didn't use the verb know as amental verb that means giving an opinion but he used it meaning communicating with his classmates, he didn't use the direct meaning of the word, also i can't neglect the existence of the word now that want to emphasize the continuity of the action, for that sir i tend to choose the verb in aprogressive form not stative as if it was stative, what would be the meaning ?, very waiting sir to your reply

[ptkk]

The word constantly, kind of is a definition of Present Simple.

[vicvic]

Can I use stative verbs in continuous form, but in a simple tense, in order to underline the repeativeness and retain the action- meaning of a verb? For example: "Every day I'm tasting a cake which I do, before I let my friends eat it."