Quirk et al. (1985) recognise, in their analysis of the progressive, eleven situtation types, i.e. kinds of verb-denoted phenomenon. First, a distinction is drawn between stative and dynamic situation types.

Stative are QUALITY (be tall) and STATE (be angry). STANCE (live) is categorised as in between stative and dynamic, leaving us with 8 dynamic meanings.

They are distinguished according to three binary oppositions, namely the DURATIVE/PUNCTUAL, CONCLUSIVE/NONCONCLUSIVE and AGENTIVE/NONAGENTIVE constrasts.

Of the durative types are GOINGS-ON (rain) which are non-conclusive, non-agentive; ACTIVITIES (drink) which are non-conclusive, agentive; PROCESSES (ripen) which are conclusive, non-agentive; and ACCOMPLISHMENTS (write a novel) which are conclusive, agentive.

As for the punctual types, MOMENTARY EVENTS (sneeze) are non-conclusive, non-agentive; MOMENTARY ACTS (tap a door) are non-conclusive, agentive; TRANSITIONAL EVENTS (drop) are conclusive, non-agentive; and TRANSITIONAL ACTS (sit down) are conclusive, agentive.