Verbs are not used in continuous. English verbs that are not used in the Continuous. State verbs that express feelings and emotions

Why in English you can’t say “I love now,” “I want now,” “I will find out now.” How to correctly use verbs in the Present Continuous and what are their features?

Most verbs, without any special exceptions or complications, are used in the long tense. But the great language of exceptions cannot fail to make its contribution in this area. Some actions cannot fit into the Present Continuous rule at all or with only a few concessions.

List of verbs that are not used in continuous

All words expressing actions or feelings can be divided into several groups:

• Verbs of perception:

to see - to see
to hear - to hear
to notice - to notice
to smell - to smell
to feel - to feel
to recognize - to recognize
to listen - listen
to watch - to watch
to taste - to have taste

These flowers smell wonderful. — These flowers smell wonderful.
Do you hear the children’s singing? -Can you hear the children singing?

But why not leave it that way? But no, some of them can be used in a long-term meaning, subject to certain conditions:

to see- in meanings: to meet on business, to visit some places (to travel), to take care.

I am seeing the manager tomorrow. — Tomorrow I’m meeting with the manager.
He is seeing the sights. — He's sightseeing.

to listen, to watch, to look, to smell, to taste are used in continuous if they express an intentional action:

Why are you looking at this furcoat? It's too expensive. - Why are you looking at this fur coat? She's too expensive.
Don’t disturb him now, he is listening to the “Radio-fact”. - Don't bother him, he's listening to Radio Fact.

If we receive information from someone or about something and want to express it with a verb to hear, then you can use it for a long time:

I have been hearing all about this accident. — I heard all about this accident.

• Verbs not used in the continuous form include the expression emotional state:

to want - to want
to desire - to wish
to refuse - refuse
to forgive - forgive
to wish - to wish
to hate - to hate
to like - to like
to love - to love

I want to leave this house.- I want to leave this house.
Do you think there will be any ticks left? -Do you think there are still tickets left?

But in modern, colloquial language you can find Continuous with “emotional” verbs, if you need to express a strong feeling, to embellish the situation emotionally.

I am hating him so much! - I hate him so much!

• But with verbs of thought processes easier. There are, of course, many of them, but there are fewer exceptions:

to understand - to understand
to know - to know
to remember - remember
to believe - to believe
to expect - to expect
to suppose - to believe
to recollect - remember
to trust - to believe.

I suppose I need a good sleep. — I think (I believe) I need a good sleep.
Do you know why he is smiling? - Do you know why he smiles?

to think in the sense of knowing, thinking or believing is not used, but in the sense of thinking about in thoughts, reflecting - it is used.

You look serious. What are you thinking about? -You look serious. What are you thinking (thinking about)?

• The remaining verbs that are not used in the continuous form can be grouped into one whole - verbs possessions, relationships:

to own - to possess
to belong - to belong
to possess - to possess
to seem - to seem
to signify - to express
to appear - appear
to contain - contain
to consist - consist
to keep - store
to concern - worry
to matter - mean

It seems to me that my mother will come back soon. - It seems to me that mom will return soon.

BUT: It is especially worth paying attention to to have, which is used in Continuous if a stable expression is used:

to have a bath - take a bath
to have a shower - take a shower
to have a rest - to rest
to have fun - to have fun
to have breakfast/supper/lunch/dinner - to have breakfast, dinner, have lunch, have lunch

So let's compare:

If you take a closer look at non continuous verbs, you will easily see that most of them cannot express duration even in Russian. After all, if we love, then always, if something belongs to us, then it will last for a long time.

In general, it’s simple in essence. But there is one catch - here, too, there are peculiar exceptions from the series. But these are the most normal verbs, we just cannot use them to denote an extended, ongoing event. In other words, even in Russian these verbs are not used for continuous actions.

As a rule, these are static verbs and verbs of emotions and feelings: know, love, own, hate, prefer, realize, have, etc. After all, even in Russian we don’t say: “I now love fried potatoes” or “Last night I hated this boring movie.” So for once we are dealing with a similar situation in Russian and English!
So, verbs not used with -ing ending (that is, always used only in Present or in Perfect):

• Believe- believe
• Depend- depend
• Belong- belong
• Contain- contain
• Forget- forget
• Hate- hate
• Like- like
• Love- be in love
• Matter- matter
• Need- need
• Own- own
• Prefer- prefer
• Realize- realize
• Remember- remember
• Suppose- assume
• Want- want
• Know- know
• Mean- matter
• Seem- seem
• Understand- understand

For example:

Now I don't remember his name.
I am not remembering his name now.
I don't remember his name now.

There is currently no salt in this solution.
At the moment this solution is not containing salt.
At the moment this solution doesn't contain salt.

Unfortunately, this is where the similarities between the situations end. And the usual course of things in the English language begins, when in some cases we can put the verb in the continuous tense, and in others we can put the same verb only in simple tenses. It’s good at least that there are only a couple of such verbs.

Table. Non progressive verbs

For example:

I am thinking of moving to Australia.
I'm thinking of moving to Australia.

I think you should move to Australia.
I think you should move to Australia.

Anna is still seeing that John from the Supplies Department.
Anna is still seeing that John from the supply department.

Now I see who is knocking at my door.
Now I see who is knocking on my door.

Present Continuous seems incomprehensible to many students, because there is no such analogue in our native language. Let's figure out how the present continuous tense is formed and in what cases it is used in order to make friends with it once and for all.

The Present Continuous is called the Present Progressive in some textbooks - remember that they are the same thing. Most often, the Present Continuous describes an action that occurs during a certain period of time in the present. But this time also has other functions. We will show you how to use it correctly depending on your specific situation.

If you want to study more grammar topics, sign up with your future teacher.

The Present Continuous tense is formed according to the following scheme:

To avoid mistakes in spelling verbs ending in -ing, pay attention to the following rules:

• if the verb ends in a vowel -e, then it is omitted: bake – baking;
• when a verb ends in vowels -ie, they change to -y: tie – tying;
• if the verb ends in one consonant letter, preceded by a stressed vowel sound, then the consonant letter at the end is doubled: let – letting, begin – beginning, regret – regretting.

Affirmative sentence:

She is petting her dog now. - She is now strokes your dog.

In a negative sentence, the particle not is placed between the auxiliary and main verbs.

She is not (isn't) petting her dog now. - She is now doesn't iron your dog.

In an interrogative sentence, the auxiliary verb comes first, followed by the subject and the main form of the verb.

Is she petting her dog now? - She is now strokes your dog?

Below you can see how the Present Continuous is formed in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.

Cases of using the Present Continuous

Let's look at examples of using the Present Continuous, starting with the simplest ones and gradually moving towards more complex ones.

For beginner and intermediate levels

1. The Present Continuous is used to describe an action that is happening at the current moment in time:

   Listen! The music is playing. - Listen! Music plays.
   Hush! The kids are sleeping. - Shh! Children sleeping.

   In such a situation, marker words are often found: now (now), right now (at this very minute), at the moment (at the moment), at present (currently). These are a kind of pointers to the present continuous tense.

   Steve is watching TV at the moment. - Now Steve looks TV.

2. The Present Continuous is used to describe ongoing actions in the present, even if they are not happening at the time of speech. That is, over some time we periodically perform this action:

   Jessica is learning French. - Jessica teaches French. (she has been learning French for some time and will continue to learn it, but she is not studying French right now)

   In this situation, Present Continuous marker words such as now, these days, currently are also often found. They are translated “now”, “at the moment”.

   Pete is currently training to participate in the Olympics. - Pete currently training to participate in the Olympic Games. (he is currently going to training and will continue to do so until the Olympics, but right now he is not in training)

3. The Present Continuous is used to describe changes occurring in a situation and the process of development. In such constructions, the action is often conveyed by the verbs to get (become), to increase (increase/increase), to decrease (decrease/decrease), to rise (rise), to fall (fall), to start (start/begin), to change (change/change), etc.

   An average day temperature is slowly increasing. - Average temperature gradually increases.
   The petrol is getting cheaper day by day. - Every day fuel becomes cheaper.

4. The Present Continuous can be used to indicate events in the near future, but only if it concerns planned actions. The future in such sentences is indicated by time, days of the week, or the words tomorrow (tomorrow), next week (next week), next month (next month), next year (next year).

   Chris is buying a new phone tomorrow. - Tomorrow Chris will buy new phone. (he has already chosen the model, put aside money for the phone)
   We are flying to India next week. - Next week We we're flying to India. (the trip has already been planned, tickets have been purchased, the trip will definitely take place)

   When talking about the near future, we often use verbs of motion: to go (to go), to leave (to leave), to come (to come). These verbs indicate that an action will be performed immediately or in the near future.

   I don't feel well. I am going to bed. - I do not feel myself well. I I'm coming sleep. (I will take this action immediately)
   I "m coming in 5 minutes. Can you meet me up? - I I'll come In 5 minutes. Will you meet me? (I'm already on my way and I'm about to arrive.)

5. Present Continuous helps to express dissatisfaction or irritation when used with the words constantly (constantly), all the time (all the time), always (always). This way we show that some regular or frequently occurring action causes negative emotions.

   Susan is always leaving her coffee mug in the sink. - Susan constantly leaves your coffee cup in the sink. (the action is performed regularly, and the speaker is unhappy with this situation)

6. There are verbs that are not used in the Present Continuous. We are talking about state verbs (stative verbs), which express feelings and mental processes: to know, to forget, to notice, to understand, to recognize, to remember ( remember), to love, to hate, to want, to need, to believe, to hear, etc.

   I know which bus to take to get home. - I I know, which bus you need to take to get home. (knowledge is my state, not action)

For high level

The present continuous tense in English can also be used in the following situations:

1. There are verbs that in one meaning are verbs of state and cannot be used in the present continuous tense, and in another meaning they act as verbs of action and can be used in the Present Continuous. Let's look at examples:

   to think - consider, believe (state) and to think - reflect (action)
   to see - see (state) and to see - meet, see each other (action)
   to have - to have (state) and to have as part of a stable expression, for example, to have breakfast (breakfast), to have a good time (have a good time)

   I think it is a nice jacket. - I I think that this is a good jacket. (it's my opinion)
   What are you thinking about? - What are you talking about? you think? (At the moment)

   The use of the Present Continuous form with some state verbs (to attract - to attract, to like - to like, to love - to love) is possible when the speaker wants to emphasize the temporary nature of his feelings.

   Usually I don't like music festivals, but I am loving this one. - I usually do not like music festivals, but this one is me adore. (the speaker emphasizes that this is the festival he likes now.)

   We use some verbs that describe thought processes (to realize - to realize, to understand - to understand, to regret - to regret) in the Present Continuous to emphasize that we have just started to think about something and have not yet formed our final opinion.

   I "m realising how wrong I was. - I began to understand how wrong I was.

   Verbs that describe physical sensations (to feel, to hurt / to ache) can be used both in the Present Simple and the Present Continuous without much difference in meaning.

   I am feeling sad today. = I feel sad today. - I'm sad today.
   My head is aching. = My head aches. - I have a headache hurts.

2. We can also use the static verb to be in the Present Continuous if we want to emphasize that a person’s behavior is uncharacteristic for him.

   He is being weird after he lost his job. - He acting strange after he lost his job. (that is, he usually behaves differently)

3. We can use the Present Continuous and the Present Simple together to make our story sound more dynamic. In this case, the action in the Present Simple occurs against the background of the action in the Present Continuous, interrupting it and creating a feeling of suddenness.

   Two guys are walking through a game park and they come across a lion that has not eaten for days. - Two boys are coming through the wild animal park, when suddenly they bump into at a lion who had not eaten for several days.

How not to confuse Present Continuous and Present Simple

It is worth considering the most common situations in which one tense from the Present group can be mistaken for another:

1. The Present Continuous is used to describe situations and actions that the speaker considers temporary. The Present Simple describes situations that the speaker perceives as permanent.

   Linda is working at the ice cream shop during summer. - In the summer Linda works in an ice cream shop. (when the summer ends, Linda will no longer work at this location)
   Sam works as a manager at the ice cream shop. - Sam works manager at an ice cream store. (this is his full-time job)

2. If we describe repeated actions that are associated with the present moment, we use the Present Continuous. And if they are not connected with the present moment, we use the Present Simple.

   I "m speaking with my mom a lot these days. - Lately I have often I say with mom on the phone. (there is a connection with the current moment)
   I speak with my aunt who lives in New York twice a year. - Twice a year I I'm talking with his aunt who lives in New York. (no connection to the present moment)

3. Present Continuous describes an action happening at the present moment. The Present Simple is used to describe facts that remain true at any given time.

   Kathy is speaking with her father at the moment. - Now Katie speaks with his father. (she is speaking at this moment in time, the conversation will be over)
   Kathy speaks English. - Katie speaks in English. (she can speak English, this statement remains a fact at any given time)

We suggest you take a test to reinforce the rules for using the Present Continuous tense.

Test on the topic “Present Continuous - present continuous tense in English”

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

There are a number of verbs in English 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 watch, meet
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:

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.