Non-continuous
Verbs
are conditions or situations that exist
categories verbs examples
MENTAL know, think, understand,
recognize, remember, want, need, He understands the problem (correct)
ACTIVITY AND
appreciate, feel (=think), appear He is understanding the problem (wrong!)
ATTITUDES
(=seem), concern
FEELINGS love, like, hate, astonish, surprise,
I hate olives (correct)
AND impress, please, amaze, adore,
I'm hating olives (wrong!)
EMOTIONS detest, enjoy, forgive, loathe
SENSES hear, see, sound, taste, feel, smell
Your idea sounds nice (correct)
Your idea is sounding nice (wrong!)
OPINION agree, believe, expect( =
I prefer tea to coffee (correct)
think), see(=understand), suppose,
I'm preferring tea to coffee (wrong!)
mean, prefer, seem,
POSSESSION have(= possess), belong,
keep(=continue) He has a sister (correct)
possess, own He is having a sister (wrong!)
MEASURES measure, reach, cost, weigh, it costs 20$ (correct)
contain It is costing 20$ (wrong!)
Some stative verbs have progressive forms but there is a difference in meaning
state action
He thinks he's really clever (=he believes) I'm thinking about his offer (I’m considering)
What does it taste like? (What is its flavour) He is tasting the food to see if it's good (he is
tasting the flavour)
He has two houses (he owns, possesses) He's having lunch (he is eating)
The silk shirt feels soft (it has a soft texture) Ann is feeling the cat's fur (she is touching it)
Do you see what I mean? (do you understand) I'm seeing Paula tonight (I'm meeting her)
Your perfume smells of apples (it has the smell) She is smelling the roses (she is trying the smell of)
I love/enjoy good films (I like in general) I'm loving/enjoying (I like specifically)
It looks as if it's going to rain (it appears) He is looking at the painting (he is viewing it)
He appears to be working (he seems to be) The opera singer is appearing on stage tonight
(he will make an appearance)
The box is heavy. It weighs a lot (its weight is) He is weighing the potatoes on the scales (he is
finding out the weight of)
Bobby is naughty (his character is bad) Suzy is being very naughty now (she is misbehaving)
These shoes fit me perfectly (they are the right size) We are fitting a new carpet in the hall (laying)
Task l . Choose the correct form
a. I _____________________(have) a great time.
b. She _____________________(have) plenty of money just now.
c. He _____________________ (appear) at the Fortune Theatre
next week.
d. She _____________________(appear) to have a problem.
c. Why you _____________________(look) at me like that?
f. It _____________________(look) as if its going to rain.
g. I _____________________(see) what they are trying to say.
h. I _____________________(see) the manager this afternoon.
i. I _____________________(think) you are right.
j. What _____________________(you think) about?
k. I _____________________(feel )very tired today.
1. I _____________________(feel) she is making a mistake.
Task 2. Put the words into the correct form, present continuous or present simple.
1 . Are you hungry?_____________________________something to eat? (want)
2. Jill is interested in politics but she ______________________________to a political party. (not/belong)
3. Don't put the dictionary away! I _________________________ it. (use)
4. Don't put the dictionary away! I _________________________it. (need)
5. Who is that man? What_____________________________(he/want)
6. Who is that man? Why______________________________at us? (he/look)
7. George says he's 80 years old but nobody_____________________________him. (believe)
8. She told me her name but I __________________________ it now. (not /remember)
9. I ______________________________of selling my car (think). Would you be interested in buying it?
10. I __________________________you should sell your car (think) You________________________it very often.
(not/use)
11. I used to drink a lot of coffee but these days I_____________________________tea. (prefer)
l 2. Air______________________________mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. (consist)
