There are two types of verbs:
- The status verb is used to indicate a state or posture of the subject. (e.g.: Un chien est un animal fidèle.)
- The action verb which allows to express and show an action by the subject. (e.g.: Le chat joue avec la souris.)
From a grammatical point of view, status verbs do not have a COD or COI but they have a subject attribute. Indeed, they allow to complete a subject but they do not introduce the notion of action on the same subject.
Jacques est heureux. (attribut du sujet)
Status verbs are: être (to be), paraître (to appear), sembler (to seem), devenir (to become), rester (to stay), ...
- The status verb indicates a state or a change of state and introduces a subject attribute.
- The action verb introduces an action with the subject and introduces a direct or indirect object complement.