Microsoft Word Schmid et al. (XXXX) lcm kodierung doc

State Verbs (SV) 
State Verbs abstract from singular episodes. They describe enduring states (to hate, to admire, to 
like, to envy); for the most part they refer to emotional or mental states of a subjective nature, 
that can not be determined by an observer. 
Defining features 
Abstract from behavior 
No reference to a singular observable episode 
No context reference preserved 
Characteristic features 
Enduring state (or change of state) 
Interpretation and evaluation 
Do not readily take progressive form 
”... Raeder knew (SV) that the action he intended (SV) against neutrals was utterly illegal.” (IMT-
GB, p.487) 
”... these approaches still do not pay sufficient attention (SV) to ...” (E & P, p.23) 
”During that time the Warrior recuperated ...” (SV) (WWF, p.23) 
Perception usually is described by State Verbs (to see, to hear). They are not under the subject’s 
control. Controlled perception, on the other hand, is expressed by Interpretive Action Verbs (to 
observe, to watch, to listen to). 
Test: Is a deliberate action involved? If yes, no State Verb 
Test: Can the description be turned into a command? If yes, no State Verb 
Temporal extension is characteristic for some, but not all SVs, since a State Verb can also signify 
a change of state. 
DAVs as well as IAVs usually describe actions with a definite beginning and end. Consider the 
following examples: 

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”He usually plays the piano in the afternoon.” (DAV) 
”Several times during that week, she had insulted him” (IAV) 
Adverbials like often, rarely, always do not affect the classification: An IAV is still an IAV, even 
if the observable episode is repeated countless times. 
Test: If the question ”How often?” is possible: IAV or DAV. If, on the other hand, the question 
would have to be ”How long?” or ”Since when?”: SV. 
Finally, here are some borderline-cases that can be classified ”SV” as well as ”IAV” – it all 
depends on whether the behavior (or state) can be observed or not: 
”Is it reasonable that they would have opposed that war if it were undertaken in good-faith self-
defense?” (IMT-USA, p.421) 
”He tried to defy the pain.” (WWF, p.23) 
Test: If the subject is the only person that can be sure about what is going on (observation is 
limited or not possible) the behavior is classified as ”SV”.