Semantic Verb Pairs
Some verbs can be used to express an action, others to express status or condition. These verbs often come in pairs and are usually mutually exclusive. One is used to indicate a single occurrence, while the other indicates a situation which is or has been in existence for a long period of time. See examples below:
| Action | Status/condition | |
| I met John last September. | I have known him since last September. | |
| (Not: I have met John since September.) | ||
| I got married in June | I have been married for one month. | |
| (Not: I have gotten married for one month.) |
Some common semantic verb pairs are as follows:
| Action | Status/condition |
| (When did you . . . “past tense”. . .?) |
(How long have you . . . “past participle” . . . ?
|
| Meet | know |
| Arrive | be (here) |
| Become | be |
| Graduate |
be (a graduate/out of school)
|
| Learn | know |
| Hear about | know/be aware of |
| Find out | know/be aware of |
| Put on | wear |
| Get dressed | be dressed |
| Get married | be married |
| Get engaged | be engaged |
| Get divorced | be divorced |
| Go to sleep/Fall asleep | be asleep |
| Fall in love | be in love |
| Wake up/Get up | be up/awake |
| Catch fire | be on fire |
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