We use continuous forms for actions and happenings that have started but not finished (they are

eating I it is raining etc.). Some verbs (for example, know and Like) are not normally used in this
way. We don't say 'I am knowing' or 'they are liking'; we say 'I know', 'they Like'.

The following verbs are not normally used in the present continuous:

Like want need prefer

know realise suppose mean understand believe remember

belong fit contain consist seem

0 I'm hungry. I want something to eat. (not I'm wanting)

0 Do you understand what I mean?
r-- Anna doesn't seem very happy at the moment.

Think

When think means 'believe' or 'have an opinion ', we do not use the continuous:
lJ I think Mary is Canadian, but I'm not sure. (not I'm thinking)
C What do you think of my plan? (=What is your opinion?)
When think means 'consider', the continuous is possible:
U I'm thinking about what happened. I often think about it.
0 Nicky is thinking of giving up her job. (=she is considering it)

See hear smell taste

We normally use the present simple (not continuous) with these verbs:
U Do you see that man over there? (not Are you seeing)
0 This room smells. Lefs open a window.
We often use can + see/ hear/smell/taste:
0 I can hear a strange noise. Can you hear it?
Look feel

You can use the present simple or continuous to say how somebody looks or feels now:
U You Look well today. or You're Looking well today.
0 How do you feel now? or How are you feeling now?
but
LJ I usually feel tired in the morning. (not I'm usually feeling)

He is selfish and He is being selfish

He's being= He's behaving I He's acting. Compare:

(J I can't understand why he's being so selfish. He isn't usually like that.
(being selfish = behaving selfishly at the moment)
0 He never thinks about other people. He is very selfish. (not He is being)
(= He is selfish generally, not only at the moment)

We use am/is/are being to say how somebody is behaving. lt is not usually possible in other
sentences:
0 it's hot today. (not lt is being hot)
U Sarah is very tired . (not is being tired)

Present continuous and sim ple 1 ~ Unit 3 Have~ Unit 17 Present tenses fo r t he fu t ure ~ Unit 19
 Unit
Exercises 4
Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple.
1 Are you hungry? ...... D~!...,HOtA .. v->~t. ..... (you I want) something to eat?
2 Don't put the dictionary away. ........ ....... (I I use) it.
3 Don 't put the dictionary away. ......... ..... (1 I need) it.
4 Who is that man? What ... .. . ............................. .. ......... (he I wan t )?
5 Who is that man? Why .... ... .... ...................... ........ . .............. (he I look) at us?
6 Alan says he's 80 years old, but nobody ... . . . . ....................... ..... .. .. . .. ... (bel ieve) him .
7 She told me her name, but .. ....... ............. .. .......... (I I not I remem ber) it now.
8 ................ . . .................. ....... (I I think) of sell ing my car. Would you be interested in buy ing it?
9 ..... . ............... (I I think) you shou ld sell your car. . ... ....
(you I not I use) it very often.
10 Air ............. .. ..... ..................... .. ......... (consist) mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.

Use the words in brackets to make sentences. (You should also study Unit 3 before you do
this exercise.)
(what I you I do?)

(you I not I seem I very happy today)

.... Y9~.... 4Pnlt. s~ ........... .
n
...... X.~M ... CA.f>P~ -~~-'-----·

(the di nner I smell I good)

(these gloves I not I fit I me)

Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct them where necessary.
1 N1 .c ky .IS t h.mk'mg o f g1vmg
. . up her JO
. b. .... Ok
.. . ....... .......... .. ..... . .. ..................... .

2 Are yo u beli eving in God? ...... .. ...... . ..... ......................... .

3 I'm feeling hungry. Is t here anything to eat? ..... . ..... .... .. ......
4 Th is sa uce is great. lt's tasting really good. ... . ...................... .. .. . .............
5 I'm thinking this is your key. Am I right? ................................................................

Complete the sentences using the most suitable form of be. Use am/is/are being (continuous)
where possible; otherwise use am/is/are (simple).
1
1 I ca n't understand why . h e s ___ b@g __ so selfish. He isn't usually like that.
2 Sa rah ...... .... . .. . .. very nice to me at the moment. I wonder w hy.
3 Yo u'll like Sop hi e w hen you meet her. She .. ....................... ............................. very n1ce.
4 You're usually very patient, so w hy ..... ..... . .. ............................... ........ so unreasona ble about waiting
ten more minutes?
5 Why isn't Steve at w ork today? .................. . ill?
9