State verbs that do not have a continuous form. What verbs are not used in the Present Continuous?

Non-continuous verbs Verbs that are not used in the continuous form

IN English language There are a number of verbs that are not used in the Continuous form. To denote long-term action they are used in a simple form (Simple). These are verbs that express:
1. Feelings and perception
A. Mental activity (intellectual/cognitive activity)
to think* believe, consider
to expect
to know
to suppose to believe
to understand
to guess
to remember
to respect
to recognize
to doubt
to forget to forget
to agree
to believe
to deny
b. Emotions
to love
to envy
to like
to fear
to hate
to detest
to need
to want
to prefer
to wish
to satisfy
to desire
to seem
V. Feelings
to see* see
to hear* hear
to smell* smell
to taste* have a taste
to feel*
2. State: possession and attitude (stative verbs)
appear* appear
be* be
belong
contain
consist of, consist of
cost* cost
fit* to fit, to fit
have* have
include, contain in oneself
owe to be in debt, to be indebted, to be obliged to someone
own, possess
possess* possess

* Verbs that can take the Continuous form if they express not a state, but action, that is:
to think
to hear
to see
to taste
to smell
to feel touch, palpate
to appear to perform on stage, to perform officially
to be is used in the Continuous with nouns and adjectives, showing a temporary action that is happening at the moment.
You are being so rude today! What happened to you? You are so rude today! What happened to you?
Jake is being a gentleman. Jake acts like a gentleman.
to cost
to fit supply, install, mount, equip
to have is used in the Continuous with some nouns and forms one action:
to have a shower/bath
to have a rest
to have fun
to have breakfast/lunch/dinner/supper
and so on.
to possess

Note: In rare cases, to enhance the meaning of a statement and add more emotionality, verbs that are not used in the Continuous form can still take it:
I am hating him! I hate him so much!

Related materials:

Most verbs in English can be divided into two broad categories - dynamic (Dynamic Verbs) and static (Stative Verbs) or state verbs.

I recognize him. - I recognize him.
Do they like your new boyfriend? - Do they like your new boyfriend?

Classification of static verbs

In English, verbs denoting state are used in Indefinite/Simple tense forms. They can be divided into logical groups.

Verbs of thinking

This group consists of verbs that express mental activity.

to agree/ to disagree - agree/disagree
to believe - to believe
to doubt - to doubt
to forget - forget
to remember - remember
to understand - to understand
to know - to know
to suppose - to assume
to recognize - find out
to respect - respect
to expect - to expect

Also belongs to this category English verb to think in meaning count, believe. The fact is that one of the meanings of this verb is “to think.” In such a case it can be used in the continuous form. We offer you two examples for comparison:

I think he's a good man. - I think (believe) he is a good person.

Verb to think in this sentence belongs to the Stative Verbs category and cannot be used in Continuous, since it is rather translated as “I suppose, it seems to me”.

I think about this problem every day. - I think about this problem every day.

Here's the verb to think It has direct meaning. The continuous tense can be used in a sentence:

I am thinking about it now. - I’m still racking my brains over it (thinking).

So, in the English language there are a number of verbs that can be considered both static and dynamic at the same time. Let's talk about each in its own category.

Verbs of emotional state

The next group of verbs that are not used in the Continuous are words that convey emotional states.

to prefer - to prefer
to like - to like
to love - to love
to hate - to hate
to wish - to wish
to desire - to desire strongly
to want - to want
to fear - to be afraid
to seem - to seem
to need - to need
to satisfy - to satisfy
to envy - to envy

Everyone knows I'm loving it McDonald's slogan is not entirely correct from a grammatical point of view. Although, you can find an excuse for this phrase, which we’ll talk about a little later. Let's return to this issue, but for now a few correct examples:

I need to buy some bread now. - I need to buy bread now.
They envy you. - Yes, they are just jealous of you.

A distinctive feature of the Continuous temporary form is the ability to observe the action in progress from the outside. We can do this when we talk about a girl who is currently jumping rope, reading a book, or even sitting and puzzling over a problem. However, it is impossible to observe the process hatred or envy.

Verbs of sensation

In this group you can find verbs associated with the action of the senses.
These are four verbs that are special. Like a verb to think they can have long tense forms in certain meanings.

• to hear - hear / I can hear somothing. - I hear something.

In the meaning of “listen, receive news”, this verb can be used in the Continuous:
Are you hearing? - You are listening?

• to see - see/ Cats see well in the dark. - Cats see well in the dark.

In the meaning of “meet”, this verb has continuous tense forms:
Are you seeing someone? -Are you dating someone?

• to smell - smell, give off a smell/ The dinner smells good. - The dish for dinner smells delicious.

For the meaning of “sniff” we can use continuous tenses in English:
What are you smelling? -What are you smelling?

• to taste - have a taste/ How does mango taste? - What does mango taste like?

We can use long tenses to mean “taste”:
What are they doing? - They are tasting the sandwiches.
What are they doing? - They try sandwiches.

From the above examples, it becomes clear that these verbs take on Continuous tense forms only in a state of active action, that is, when someone listens, smells, tastes.

Verbs of possession and relationship

Processes and duration of action are conveyed through Indefinite times.

to own - to possess
to posess - to possess
to belong - to belong
to contain - contain
to consist - consist
to include - include
to have - to have

Does the house belong to you? - Does the house belong to you?
It consists of two pieces. - It consists of two parts.

In this group it is worth mentioning separately the verb to have, which has Continuous forms in some phrases. The phrase in this case means one action. Let's compare:

I have a little niece. - I have a little niece.

I'm having a shower. I cannot open the door. - I am taking a shower. I can't open the door.

Phrases such as to have a bath/ shower, to have breakfast/ dinner, to have fun/ rest may have extended tense forms.

To be in the meaning of the state

In combination with adjectives and nouns, this verb conveys the state:

He is brave. - He is brave (is brave).
Sylvia is a princess. - Sylvia princess.

Typically verb to be in such cases it is not used in the Continuous form, but the situation is possible. If in English you want to emphasize that the condition is temporary:

He is being brave. - He behaves well and is not a coward.
Sylvia is being a princess. - Sylvia pretends to be a princess./ Or has temporarily assumed the powers of one.

And finally we want to return to I'm loving it. According to the rules of the English language, it is permissible to use continuous forms with static verbs (Stative Verbs) to express a strong emotional attitude.

Victoria Tetkina

In English there are a number of specific verbs that have their own characteristics and are not used in groups of long tenses.

Concepts of dynamic and static verbs

English verbs can be divided into two subcategories: static and dynamic.

Dynamic imply physical action, activity, development, movement. They are used in all tense forms, including the group of continuous tenses. There are a few interesting features, which distinguish them from static ones. Actions expressed by dynamic verbs can be consciously performed within a certain period of time and the duration of the process can be controlled. For example, words such as run (run), read (read), speak (speak), learn (teach), dance (dance), work (work). In addition, this activity can be depicted. For example, draw, capture on camera or photograph in the process.

Static verbs express not a process, but a state. These are the verbs that are not used in the Continuous. The name stative verbs comes from the word state - state. There are also names such as nonprogressive, non-action verbs. They are used to describe existing conditions.

Features of static verbs

At first glance, it may seem difficult to remember the following list of unrelated foreign words. However, the most important thing here is to understand the principle. There are several features that will help you see the essence:

• these verbs do not denote a physical action or process;
• some of them convey those states that arise on their own, regardless of a person’s intention (smell - smell, hear - hear);
• some of the words mean a lightning-fast action that cannot occur over a long period of time (notice - notice).

Verbs not used in Continuous (Stative Verbs)

For more convenient memorization, Stative Verbs are conditionally divided into thematic subgroups.

1. Mental activity and state of consciousness:

• agree/disagree - to agree/disagree;
• believe - to believe, to place hopes, to trust;
• deny - deny;
• doubt - to doubt;
• expect - expect;
• forget - forget;
• know - to have an idea, to know, to be aware;
• mean - to mean;
• mind - to be against, to object;
• realise - to realize;
• recognize - find out;
• understand - to comprehend, interpret, understand.

2. Verbs not used in the Continuous are used to express emotional states and feelings:

• admire - to admire, admire;
• appreciate - to evaluate, appreciate;
• impress - to impress;
• respect - to respect;
• love - to love, adore;
• hate - to hate, to dislike;
• seem - to appear;
• envy - to envy;
• trust - to trust.

3. Desire, preferences:

• desire - to wish;
• need - to need;
• prefer - give preference;
• want - want;
• wish - strive, desire, make a request.

4. Words that denote the perception of the senses (verbs not used in the Continuous).

Often used with modal verbs can, could to indicate perception at the moment of narration:

• hear - to hear;
• see - look, see;
• smell - to give off an aroma, to smell;
• taste - to have a taste.

5. Belonging, attitude:

• belong - to belong, to be someone's property, to belong to (a group), to be appropriate;
• concern - relate, touch, be concerned, be interested in, deal with;
• consist - consist of containing;
• contain - contain, accommodate;
• depend (on) - depend (on someone, something), rely on (someone), count;
• differ - have a difference, disagree;
• equal - to be equal, to be similar, to draw an analogy;
• fit - fit, combine, correspond;
• have - to have;
• include - include, cover;
• involve - to involve;
• lack - lack;
• matter - to matter, to be important;
• owe - to owe, to have a debt;
• own - to possess;
• possess - to own, possess;
• resemble - resemble, be similar.

Mixed verbs

There is a certain group of static verbs that are used in the group of continuous tenses. But at the same time they acquire slightly different shades of meaning. These are polysemic words that hide more than one meaning.

Some verbs that are not used in the Continuous can sometimes be used in the continuous form to demonstrate strong emotions, admiration or indignation:

I am loving this city! - I love this city!

She"s hating that book. - She hates that book.

Verbs to be and to have

To be sometimes used in English in the form of the continuous tense when it is necessary to emphasize the behavior of a person or the state in which he is at the moment.

Verb be in is formed using a combination was, were and present participles with an ing ending ( being).

Verb have V Present Continuous used only in some cases. In the English language there are certain stable expressions that form a single whole.

In the role auxiliary verb in this case the word “to be” appears. Therefore, you should not make the mistake of using Continuous. In this case, the third person form is formed using a combination of the auxiliary verb is and a semantic verb with the ending -ing(present participle).

Examples of using mixed verbs

It is much easier to master any theoretical material if you illustrate the rules with specific ones; those that are not used in the Continuous are quite easily remembered due to the understanding of the principle and the division into semantic subgroups. And with memorizing mixed verbs, some difficulties may arise due to polysemy (that is, polysemy).

One of the best ways master new material in grammar is to independently come up with several examples on a certain topic and begin to include them in your speech, using them in dialogues, as well as when writing essays.

Continuous is not used in tense forms verbs that cannot express action in its development as a process. These verbs can be divided into four conditional groups:

I. Verbs expressing perception:

• appear - seem
• feel*- feel
• hear - hear
• notice - notice
• recognize - learn
• resemble - resemble, resemble
• see- see
• seem - seem
• smell*- smell
• sound- sound
• taste*- have taste

ATTENTION! The following verbs of perception:

Verb feel:

• when adjectives such as are used after it angry/pleased, hot/cold and etc.

How do you feel? or How are you feeling? - How are you you feel?

I feel better. or I am feeling better. - I feel yourself better.

• has the meaning " touch, touch, feel «

The doctor was feeling his pulse. - Doctor touched his pulse.

Verb smell with the meaning " sniff, sniff «:

The girl is smelling the flower. - Girl sniffs flower.

Verb see with the meaning " see, visit «:

She is seeing her grandmother. - She visits your grandmother.

Verb taste with the meaning " sample «

She is tasting the soup now. - She tries soup now.

Verb hear with the meaning " receive news «:

I am hearing from him now. - I I get From him news Now.

II. Verbs expressing emotions, desire:

• deserve - deserve
• desire - wish
• envy - envy
• fear - afraid
• hate* - hate
• love*- be in love
• like*- like
• need- need
• prefer - prefer
• refuse - refuse
• respect - respect
• satisfy - satisfy
• wish- wish
• want- want

ATTENTION! IN colloquial speech verbs of emotional state can be used in the Continuous form:

I am hating this country is so much! - I just I hate this country!

III. Verbs expressing mental processes:

• agree - agree
• Belive - believe
• forget - forget
• guess - guess
• deny- deny
• doubt - doubt
• expect- believe
• magine - imagine
• know- know
• mean- keep in mind
• realize - imagine; understand
• recognize- learn
• remember - remember
• suppose- assume
• think* - count/believe
• understand - understand

ATTENTION! The following verbs denoting mental activity can be used in the Continuous form:

Verb think with the meaning " think, ponder «:

Don't make so much noise. I am thinking. - Don't make so much noise. I Think.

IV. Verbs expressing possession, attitude:

• be- be
• belong - belong
• concern - touch
• consists of - to consist of
• contain - contain
• depend on - depend on
• have* - have
• include- contain
• involve - touch
• keep - keep
• own - own
• possess- possess
• and etc.

ATTENTION! The following verbs denoting possession, attitude can be used in the Continuous form:

Verb have in combination with some nouns with which it forms a semantic whole, for example have dinner - lunch:

I was having dinner when he came. - I had lunch, when he came.