5
Verbs – not usually used
in Continuous Tenses
There are certain verbs which are not usually used in the Present Continuous or any other continuous verb form.
The meanings of some verbs intrinsically make it impossible to be a temporary situation.
- I’m believing your explanation is not possible
- I believe your explanation is possible
If we believe something, it is part of our opinion and is not temporary and is not possible with the Present Continuous
Many of these non-continuous verbs refer to states rather than actions
Here is a list of some common verbs that are not usually continuous:
Mental and emotional states
Believe doubt feel (opinion) imagine know (dis)like love hate prefer recognise remember suppose think (opinion) want wish
Use of the senses
Appear look (= ‘seem’) hear see smell taste
Communicating and reaction
Agree astonish deny impress please disagree mean promise surprise
Other
Be belong concern containing depend deserve fit include involve matter need owe own possess weigh cost
Continuous and non-continuous uses
| appear* appreciate* be* believe belong care contain cost doubt desire dislike equal envy fear feel* forget |
hate have* hear imagine* include* know like love matter mean mind* need owe own prefer possess |
realize recognize remember* resemble see* seem smell* sound suppose surprise taste* think* understand want weigh |
Example sentences:
- I’m understanding you. Is not possible*
I understand you. Is possible - His new house is costing $320,000. Is not possible
That house costs $320,000. Is possible - He’s liking to do exercise in the morning. Is not possible
He likes to do exercise in the morning. Is possible - You’re weighing ninety-five kilos! Is not possible*
You weigh ninety-five kilos! Is possible - Is this fish smelling good to you? Is not possible*
Does this fish smell good to you? Is possible - Are you agreeing with me? Is not possible
Do you agree with me? Is possible
in special situations, when we want to give special emphasis to an idea, non-continuous verbs are occasionally used in continuous forms:
Example
- The water is tasting better today
Continuous and non-continuous verbs with different meanings
In the next section we will show you some examples of how some verbs can be used in continuous tenses with one meaning but not with another:
Example:
- What are you thinking about? (here “think” = process of thinking)
- What do you think about the new teachers at your school? ( here “think” = your opinion)
- What are you thinking about your new teachers? Is not possible