A verb that doesn't express action but is a state of being is also known as a linking verb such as is, am, are, was, were, and be. Other examples could be become, seem, and appear, but these can be confused with action verbs, so you have to be careful. An example of a verb being a state of being would be: I am sick. (Your state of being is sick.) Sally is happy. (Sally's state of being is happy.)
