These verbs, unlike the verbs that are used in Continuous tenses, cannot express an action or state as a process taking place at a certain moment. Instead of Continuous tenses with such verbs, Simple tenses are used. These verbs include:

a) emotional state verbs:
to wish want
to desire want
to want want
to envy envy
to hate hate
to like like
to love be in love
to prefer prefer
to fear afraid
to need need
to satisfy satisfy
to seem seem

b) verbs of mental activity:
agree agree
to believe believe
to deny deny
to doubt doubt
to expect believe
to forget forget
to know know
to recognize learn
to remember remember
to respect respect
to suppose assume
to think* count/assume
to understand understand

c) verbs of sensation:
to hear* hear
to see* see
to taste* have a taste
to smell* smell

d) verbs of possession, relations
to be be
to consist consist
to belong belong
to contain contain
to have have
to include contain
to possess have
to own own etc.

Do you belong to this strange club?
Whome did he believe but you?

However, there is an exception to this rule. Some verbs (marked with *) can convey the meaning of both duration and state (depending on the meaning that the speaker wants to convey).

I am thinking of you now. Now I'm thinking about you.
I think you are very tired. I think (I guess) you are very tired.

If the action is inherent in the subject only in this moment(time period), then Present Continuous is used:
You are being impatient. You are so impatient.(usually patient, but not now)

verb to have is used in Continuous tenses only in combination with some nouns with which it forms a semantic whole:
Was not having dinner when I came. He was having lunch when I arrived.

Note: Sometimes verbs not normally used in the Continuous form can be used in this form to give a strong emotional expression:
I am hating this country. I hate this country.

In this lesson we will study English verbs that are not used in Continuous. All verbs in English language can be divided into two groups:

1. action verbs ( activity or action verbs)
2. state verbs ( state verbs)

Action verbs describe actions and can be used in simple (Simple) and long (continuous) times. Most of these verbs. For example, run- action verb.

State verbs describe a state and are usually used ONLY in simple times (Simple). These verbs must be memorized. For example, be in love- state verb.

Action and state verbs. State and Activity Verbs

There are many more Activity or Action Verbs than there are State Verbs. Therefore, state verbs must be gradually memorized. Beginners need to memorize 13 verbs.

Level one (for beginners)

Already on a must 13 English state verbs, which are not used in long times (Continuous). These are very common verbs. Here is the list.

1. be - to be
2. have - to have
3. need - need
4. hear - hear
5. see - see
6. like - like
7. love - to love
8. dislike - do not like
9. hate - hate
10. know - to know
11. understand - understand
12. want - want
13. hope - hope

Verb enjoy as opposed to verb like used in continuous tense.
EXAMPLE is enjoying the song? — Yes, he says he likes it very much.

Action and state verbs. State and Activity Verbs. Level two

State verbs are divided into several groups:

Group I Verbs of being (existence)

1. be - to be
2. seem - seem
3. appear - appear

Group II. Verbs of perception of reality with the help of the senses:

1. hear - hear
2. see — see
3. look - look (perceive in appearance)
4. resemble - to be similar (to have similarities)
5. smell - smell (smell)
6. taste - to feel (to taste)
7. sound - sound

Group III. State verbs that express our feelings and emotions:

1. feel — feel
2. like — like
3. love — be in love
4. adore — adore
5. care for — be in love
6. dislike - do not like
7. hate — hate

Group IV. State verbs that refer to mental activity

1. know - to know
2. understand - understand
3. remember - remember
4. forget - forget

Group V Verbs that express an opinion

1. think - to consider, to have an opinion
2. realize - realize
3. believe — believe, believe
4. suppose - suppose
5. mean - keep in mind
6. agree - agree
7. admit - recognize
8. imagine - to imagine

Group VI. Verbs that express preferences and expectations:

1. want - want
2. prefer - prefer
3. hope - hope
4. wish - wish

Group VII. Verbs that express the state of belonging:

1. have - to have
2. need - need
3. possess - possess
4. own - to own
5. belong - to belong
6. contain - contain
7. include - include
8. consist - consist

Highlighted in bold state verbs that you need to know about basic level. But try to memorize them all using the rhyming clues below.

Group 1 - 15 state verbs expressing brain activity

Group 2 - 9 state verbs expressing emotions

Group 3 - 20 state verbs expressing existence, belonging and perception.

Action and state verbs. State and Activity Verbs. Level three

Exist tricky state verbs, which in some sense can mean actions. In this case, they MAY be used in continuous. This group of "dual" verbs should be remembered: have, think, look(basic) and feel, taste, smell, sound.

I. VerbHAVE

1. have in the basic meaning of "to express belonging" = "have, own" = state verb (state verb)

EXAMPLE. We have a second-hand car. (have=possess = state verb =>Simple Tense)

1. Have in combinations changes its lexical meaning depending on the noun = activity verb (action verb)

• She is having tea. (have= drink= activity verb=> Present Continuous)
• Jean's got to go now. She is having a date with Peter. (have a date = meet=>activity verb=> Present Continuous, agreement)

Examples of set phrases with the verb "have"

In all these stable phrases, have verb is translated depending on the noun following it, and loses its main meaning "to have". Therefore, in these phrases HAVE can be used in Continuous Tenses.

1. Have breakfast / lunch / dinner / supper - have breakfast, lunch, lunch, dinner
2. Have tea - drink tea
3. Have a shower - take a shower
4. Have a bath - take a bath
5. Have a good time - spend time
6. Have a talk - talk
7. Have a headache / a toothache / backache - headache, toothache, back
8. Have a lesson - be in the lesson
9. Have a bite - have a bite
10. Have a date - have a date

II. THINK verb

1. Think in the meaning of "consider, have an opinion" = state verb (state verb)

EXAMPLE. I think it's a great idea. (think=believe=state verb => Simple Tense)

1. Think in the meaning of "think, exercise brain activity" = activity verb (action verb)

EXAMPLE. I' mthinking about my exam. (think=consider = activity verb => )

III. Verb LOOK

1. look in the main meaning of "watch" = activity verb (action verb)

EXAMPLE. Who are you looking at? (look => activity verb => Present Continuous, process in the present tense)

1. look in the meaning of "look" = state verb (state verb)

EXAMPLE. He looks great today. (look=is = state verb => Simple Tense)

Tricky state verbs: feel, taste, smell

IV. FEEL verb

1. feel means "to consider, to have an opinion, to believe" = state verb (state verb)

EXAMPLE. I feel I can't go through with it. (feel=believe (believe) = state verb => Simple Tense)

1. Feel can mean "to feel, feel something" = activity verb (action verb)

EXAMPLE. How are you feeling now? (feel = activity verb=> Present Continuous)

V. The verb TASTE

1. Taste means "to taste" = state verb (state verb)

EXAMPLE. The soup tastes good. (tastes=is = state verb => Simple Tense)

1. Taste can mean "to taste" = activity verb (action verb)

EXAMPLE. I 'm tasting this curry now to see if I've made it hot enough. = activity verb=> Present Continuous

VI. Verb SMELL

1. Smell means "to smell" = state verb (state verb)

EXAMPLE. The meat smells good. (smells=is = state verb => Simple Tense)

1. Smell can mean "sniff" => activity verb (action verb)

EXAMPLE. why are you smelling that meat? Is there something wrong with it? (small = activity verb=> Present Continuous)

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, state verbs are used in Indefinite/Simple tenses. They can be divided into logical groups.

Thinking verbs

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 - understand
to know - to know
to suppose - suppose
to recognize - find out
to respect - respect
to expect - expect

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

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

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

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

Here is the verb to think has direct meaning. The sentence can use the continuous tense:

I am thinking about it now. - I'm still scratching my head over it (I think).

So, in English 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 category.

Emotional state verbs

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

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

Everyone knows I'm loving it in the McDonald's slogan is not quite correct from a grammatical point of view. Although, for this phrase, you can find an excuse, which we will talk about a little later. Let's return to this question, 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 tense form is the ability to observe the action in the process from the outside. We can do this when we are talking 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.

sensation verbs

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the meaning of "sniff" we can use the continued tenses in English:
What are you smelling? - What are you sniffing?

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

In the meaning of "taste" we can use long tenses:
What are they doing? - They are tasting the sandwiches.
What are they doing? - Try sandwiches.

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

Verbs of possession and relationship

Processes and duration of action are conveyed by means of Indefinite times.

to own - to possess
to posess - own
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 denotes 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 take the form of extended time.

To be in the meaning of the state

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

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

Usually the 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 state is temporary:

He is being brave. - He is doing well, he is not a coward.
Sylvia is being a princess. - Sylvia pretends to be a princess. / Or temporarily assumed the powers of such.

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 areverbs that are not used in Present Continuous. To understandwhat verbs are not used in Present Continuous, you need to know the construction and use cases of this tense.

In order to highlightverbs not used in Present Continuous, you first need to figure out what functions this tense performs in English.

Functions of Present Continuous

• Present Continuous implies that the action is happening now, at the moment of speech. Also, you can use this time for two actions that occur simultaneously in the present.

Marker words: now (now), at the moment (at the moment).

Examples

- What is he doing?- What is he doing now?

- He is talking to his friend.- He is talking to a friend. (He is currently standing and talking to a friend).

She is eating chocolate ice-cream while I am drinking water. - She eats chocolate ice cream while I drink water.

• Present Continuous is also used if the action is taking place in the present, but not only at a particular moment of speech. It is extended in time: it could have started yesterday or two days ago, but now it continues and will continue for some time. This whole long segment of the action is periodically performed.

Marker words: now (now), these days (these days, now), currently (at this time).

Examples

I am reading an interesting book. - I am reading an interesting book. (I started reading it before the speech and will continue to read it for some time, but right now I'm not busy reading).

We are moving into a new house. - We are moving to a new house. (We have begun to collect and transport things, but we are not engaged in this activity at the moment of speech).

This play is currently running at the theatre. This play is on at the theater right now.

• The situation is temporary. We know or have a feeling, a feeling that the action will not last long.

Marker words: for (during), during (during), until (not yet).

Examples

He is staying in New York for three months . He stays in New York for three months. (In three months his stay will end and he will return home).

He is working as a waiter until he finds a better job. He works as a waiter until he finds a better job. (He temporarily works as a waiter).

• The action is slowly developing or changing.

Verbs often found in such sentences: get (become), change (change), become (become), rise (rise), fall (fall), grow (grow), improve (improve), begin (begin).

Examples

Your English is getting better. - Your English is getting better. (English did not get better overnight, but gradually improves)

The weather is improving.- The weather is getting better.

The prices are rising.- Prices are rising.

State verbs in the present continuous

Usually present long time in English it is not used with state verbs (state verbs or stative verbs). These are verbs that convey internal state human: his feelings, relationships, mental processes. These verbs denote actions that take place inside the human consciousness: it is impossible to observe how they proceed. Therefore, by meaning, they cannot be used in all tenses of the Continuous group, since the Continuous aspect shows duration. But there are also exceptions to this rule.

Groups of verbs that are not used in Present Continuous under any circumstances.

Emotional condition:

adore (to adore)
desire (wish)
detest (disgust)
dislike (dislike)
envy (envy)
fear (fear)
hate (hate)
hope (hope)
like (like)
love (to love)
mind (to object)
regret (regret)
respect (respect)
want (want)
wish (wish)

Thinking and feeling:

agree (agree)
care for (take care of)
doubt (doubt)
forget (forget)
hear (hear)
know (to know)
mean (mean)
notice (notice)
prefer (prefer)
realize (realize)
remember (remember)
seem (seem)
sound (sound)
suppose (assume)
understand (understand)

Possession and existence:

be (be, be)
belong (belong)
consist (consist)
contain (to contain)
depend (depend)
exist (to exist)
have (to have)
include (include)
keep (keep)
lack
matter (mean)
owe (to owe)
own (own)
possess (possess)

Influence, necessity, modal and other verbs:

appreciate (appreciate)
astonish (to amaze)
can (be able)
concern (to touch)
cost (cost)
dare (to dare)
deserve (deserve)
imagine (to imagine)
impress (impress)
influence (influence)
involve (involve)
may (may)
measure (measure)
must (to be due)
need (need)
please (please)
require (require)
resemble (to be like)
satisfy (satisfy)
suit (to fit)
surprise (surprise)
weigh (weigh)

Above are listedverbs not used in continuous. But some of them have several meanings: one is perceived as a state, and the other is perceived as an action. Static verbs used in the meaning of action lose their static property and are used in the tenses of the Continuous group.

Examples

Statics: think = guess

I think he is a brave boy. - I think he is a brave boy.

Action: think = ponder

I'm thinking to buy a new car . - I'm thinking of buying a new car.

static: look

You look sad. - You look upset.

Action: look

Why are you looking at these pictures? - Why are you looking at these pictures?

Static: have fun

She enjoys her job. - She is satisfied with her work.

Action: enjoy the process

They are enjoying married life. - They are enjoying their married life.

Static: feel something, feel

I feel hungry. - I feel hungry.

Action: feel

I'm feeling good. - I feel myself good.

Static: be tasty

The baked fish taste good. - This baked fish is very tasty.

action: try

John is tasting the baked fish . - John tries the baked fish.

Static: smell

The flowers smell good. - These flowers smell good.

Action: sniff

Why is he smelling it? - Why is he sniffing it?

Static: see

Do you see this building? - Do you see this building?

Action: see = meet

We are seeing our relatives tomorrow. - Tomorrow we are meeting with our relatives.

Static: admire

All men admire her beauty. - All men admire her beauty.

Action: admire = admire

I'm admiring the beauty of the ocean . - I admire the beauty of the ocean.

The same situation is possible with the verbs to be and have:

• to beused in the continued form when talking about temporary, unusual behavior for a person.

Example

She is being a queenShe's acting like a queen!

• To have is a constituent element of a set of set expressions, and in these meanings it can describe a long process.

Example

I'm having a shower now- Now I'm taking a shower.

Nick is busy, he's having breakfast with his colleague. - Nick is busy, he is having breakfast with a colleague.

Yesterday I was having tea with the Queen of England. - Yesterday I had tea with the Queen of England.

We made a decision after having a lengthy discussion. - We made a decision after a long discussion.

She heard loud noises, like someone was having a fight. - She heard a loud noise, as if someone was fighting.

I'm having a wonderful holiday. - I'm having a great vacation.

Continuous forms are not used in temporary forms verbs that cannot express an action in its development like a process. These verbs can be roughly divided into four conditional groups:

I. Verbs expressing perception:

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

ATTENTION! The following verbs of perception:

Verb feel:

• when followed by adjectives such as angry/pleased, hot/cold and etc.

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

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

• has the meaning " touch, touch, feel «

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

Verb smell with the meaning " sniff, sniff «:

The girl is smelling the flower. - Girl sniffing 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 get From him news Now.

II. Verbs expressing emotions, desire

• deserve - deserve
• desire - wish
• environment - envy
• fear - afraid
• hate* - to 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, emotional state verbs can be used in continuous form:

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

III. Verbs expressing mental processes:

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

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

Verb think with the meaning " think, contemplate «:

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

IV. Verbs expressing possession, relationship:

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

ATTENTION! The following verbs denoting possession, relation can be used in continuous form:

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

I was dinner when he came. - I dined, when he came.