IV. Verbs Not Used in the Continuous Forms.

Verbs of sense perception:

see, hear, taste, feel, smell, sound, taste, notice, observe

Verbs of feelings and emotions:

admire, adore, appreciate, care for, detest, dislike, forgive, hate, like, loathe, love, mind (care), respect, value

Verbs denoting mental activity and opinion:

agree, assume, believe, expect (= think), feel (=think), forget, know, mean, object, perceive, realize, recall, recognize, recollect, remember, see (understand), trust, understand, remind

Verbs denoting wish:

wish, want, desire, prefer

Verbs of possessing:

have, owe, own, possess, belong to, lack, include

Verbs of existing or being:

be, consist of, contain, exist

Verbs denoting abstract relations:

appear (= seem), apply to (to be true to, to have reference to), compare, concern (to be of importance), cost, depend on, deserve, differ from, interest, seem, consist, contain, hold (=contain), keep(=continue), matter, measure, resemble, stand for, weigh, allow, astonish, claim, fail to do, find, forbid, forgive, keep doing, manage to do, need, prevent, puzzle, resemble, result, require, satisfy, signify, feel, smell, sound, succeed, suit, surprise

Verb

Use in the Present Simple

Use in the Present Continuous

be

a stative verb

• She is (habitually) silly.

be = behave

• She is being silly.

have

have = possess

• He has a house in the country.

have = experience

• We are having problems with the new employee.

have = give

• They are having a party tomorrow.

have = take

• She is having a shower/ a lesson/ a meal.

see

see = understand

• I see what you mean.

see = use the power of sight

• Do you see the ship?

see = meet by appointment

• I am seeing my doctor tomorrow.

see = visit as a tourist

• Tom is seeing the sights.

see=go out with

• I’m seeing a new man at present.

see about = make arrangements or enquiries

• We are seeing about a work permit for you.

see to = arrange, put right, deal with

• The plumber is here. He is seeing to a leak in our tank.

see smb home/out /to some place = escort

• Is Bill seeing you home after the party? - No, he is just seeing me to the bus.

see smb off – say good-bye to a departing traveller at the starting point of the journey

• Bill is seeing us off to the airport.

hear

hear = perceive with the ears

• Do you hear someone laughing?

hear = listen formally to

• The court is hearing evidence this afternoon.

hear = receive news (only in the Present Perfect Continuous and the Future Continuous)

• I've been hearing all about your accident.

• You'll be hearing about the new scheme at our next meeting.

think

think = have an opinion

• I think it's a good idea.

think = a process of thought

• What are you thinking about?

expect

expect = believe

• I expect that I shall be back on Sunday.

expect = await

• I am expecting a letter.

• She is expecting a baby in May.

feel

feel = be in a certain state

• I feel hungry/happy/comfortable.

Also

• How are you feeling? (in the medical sense)

feel = be (a link verb)

• Your hands feel cold.

feel = sense

• Do you feel the house shaking?

feel = think

• I feel you are wrong.

feel = touch

• The doctor was feeling her pulse.

feel = try to find

• He was feeling for the keyhole in the dark.

look

look = be (a link verb)

• That cake looks good.

look = a deliberate action

• What are you looking at?

look for = search

• I am looking for a better job.

smell

smell = be (a link verb)

• Does it smell sour?

smell = perceive a scent

• I smell gas.

smell = sniff at

• Why are you smelling the milk?

taste

taste = be (a link verb)

• This coffee tastes bitter.

taste = taste the flavour of

• She was tasting the pudding to see if it was sweet enough.

appear

appear = seem

• She appears to be in the office.

appear = to come before the public

• She has been appearing in many plays recently.

admire

admire = have a high regard for

• I admire this masterpiece.

admire = look at with admiration

• Quiet! He is admiring the painting.

consider

consider = have an opinion

• I consider him quite efficient.

consider = study

• They are considering this project now.