Present continuous and Present simple (2)

We use continuous tenses only for actions and happenings (such as eating and raining). Some verbs are stative (such as belong, know and like) and cannot be action verbs. You cannot say “I am knowing” or “they are liking”. You can only ever say “I know” or “they like”. There are also some verbs with can either be stative or dynamic (involving actions), depending on the sense in which they are used. A complete list can be found at the end of this lesson.

•   I'm hungry. I want something to eat. (not “i'm wanting”)

•   Do you understand what I mean?

•   Ann doesn't seem very happy at the moment.

When think means 'believe', it is stative and we do not use the continuous: (see G17)

•   What do you think (=believe) will happen? (not 'What are you thinking?')

but

•   You look serious. What are you thinking about? (=What is going on in your mind?) (dynamic)

When have means to possess, do not use the continuous:

•   We're enjoying our holiday. We have a nice room in the hotel. (not 'We are having a nice room in the hotel.')

but

•   We're enjoying our holiday. We're having a good time. (dynamic)

See      Hear             Smell              Taste

Normally, these verbs are stative, but they can sometimes be dynamic, so we would usually use the present simple (not the present continuous) with these verbs.

•   Do you see that man over there? (not Are you seeing that man over there.)

•   This room smells. Let's open a window.

We often use can with these verbs.

•   Listen! Can you hear something?

However, you can use the continuous with see (I'm seeing) when it refers to having a meeting with someone. (especially when this is in the future – see G19)

•   I'm seeing the manager tomorrow morning.

To be

The present continuous of be is I am being/he is being/you are being, etc…)

I'm being = I 'm behaving/I'm acting. Compare this with:

•   I can't understand why he's being so selfish. He isn't usually like that. (being selfish = behaving selfishly at the moment)

but

•   He never thinks about other people. He is very selfish. (not 'He is being') (= he is selfish generally, not only at the moment)

We use the continuous with be to say how someone is behaving. It is not normally possible in other circumstances.

Look and feel

You can use either the present simple or the present continuous with these verbs when you wish to say how they look or feel at the moment:

•   You look well today.

•   You are looking well today.

•   How do you feel now?

•   How are you feeling now?

but

•   I usually feel tired in the morning. (not 'I am feeling tired in the morning.)

Stative (or State) Verb List