Present Continuous vs. Present simple: State verbs Some verbs (for example, know and like) are not action verbs. We don’t say 'I am knowing' or 'they are liking'; we say 'I know', 'they like'. The following verbs are not normally used in continuous tenses:

be and have verbs (existence and possession)

be exist have (got); own; belong, possess contain consist

think and know verbs (mental states)

think know realise recognise suppose mean understand believe doubt remember forget hope agree

wants, likes and hates like love hate want need prefer

senses see, hear, taste, smell, touch

appearance seem, appear, look

other verbs cost, weigh, depend

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.

A think When think means 'believe', or “have an opinion” we don’t use the continuous:

I think Mary is Canadian, but I’m not sure What do you think about my plan?

When think means “consider”, the continuous is possible: You look serious. What are you thinking about? (= What is going on in your mind?) I'm thinking of giving up my job. (= I am considering)

B have When have means 'possess' (= have got), do not use the continuous

We're enjoying our holiday. We have a nice room in the hotel. (not 'we're having') We're enjoying our holiday. We're having a great time.

C see hear smell taste We normally use the present simple (not continuous) with these verbs:

Do you see that man over there? (not 'are you seeing') This room smells. Let's open a window.

We often use can + see/hear/smell/taste: Listen! Can you hear something?

C. He is selfish and He is being selfish He’s being = “he’s behaving/ he’s acting”. Compare:

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

He never thinks about other people. He is very selfish. (= he is selfish generally, not only at the moment) We use am/is/are being to say how somebody is behaving. It is not usually possible in other sentences:

It's hot today. (not 'it is being hot') Sarah is very tired. (not 'is being tired')

D. Look and feel You can use the present simple or continuous when you say how somebody looks or feels now:

You took well today. or You're looking well today. How do you feel now? or How are you feeling now? BUT! I usually feel tired in the morning. (not 'I'm usually feeling')

EXERCISES 1 Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.

1. Nicky is thinking of giving up her job OK 4. I'm feeling hungry. Is there anything to eat?

2. Are you believing in God? 5. This sauce is great. It's tasting really good.

3. I'm seeing the manager tomorrow morning. 6. I'm thinking this is your key. Am I right?

2 States and actions (A) Tom is on the Internet. He's telling people about himself. Say which verbs express states and which express actions.

0 I surf the Net most evenings action 1 My flat is in the town centre................................

2 I drive a taxi in the daytime ................................. 3 I own two cars. .........................

4 I go to lots of parties. 5 I love football. ..........................

2 I think/I'm thinking etc (B): Complete the conversation. Choose the correct form of the verb. Emma: Hi, Matthew. What do you look/are you looking at? Matthew: Oh, hi. These are photos of me when I was a child. Emma: Oh, look at this one. (1) I think/I'm thinking you look lovely, Matthew. Matthew: (2) I have/I'm having some more photos here. Emma: Look at this. Why such a big coat? Matthew: It was my brother's. That's why (3) it didn't fit/it wasn't fitting properly. Emma: Oh, (4) I see/I'm seeing. And (5) you have/you're having your tea here. And in this one (6) you think/you're thinking about something very serious. Matthew: This is a photo of the village (7) I come/I'm coming from. Emma: Oh, that's nice. Matthew: And I caught this fish, look. (8) It weighed/It was weighing about half a kilo. Emma: What a nice little boy! And what a sentimental old thing you are now! 4.2 Look at the pictures. Use the words in brackets to make sentences.

4.3 Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple. 1. Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat? (you/want) 2. Jill is interested in politics but she __________ to a political party. (not/belong) 3. Don't put the dictionary away. I __________ it. (use) 4. Don't put the dictionary away. I __________ it. (need) 5. Who is that man? What __________ ? (he/want) 6. Who is that man? Why __________ at us? (he/look) 7. George says he's 80 years old but nobody __________ him. (believe) 8. She told me her name but I __________ it now. (not/remember) 9. I __________ of selling my car. (think) Would you be interested in buying it? 10. I __________ you should sell your car. (think) You __________ it very often. (not/use) 11. I used to drink a lot of coffee but these days I __________ tea. (prefer) 12. Air __________ mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. (consist) 4.4 Complete the sentences using the most suitable form of be. Sometimes you must use the simple (am/is/are) and sometimes the continuous is more suitable (am/is/are being). 1. I can't understand why he's being so selfish. He isn't usually like that. 2. Jack __________ very nice to me at the moment. I wonder why. 3. You'll like Jill when you meet her. She __________ very nice. 4. Normally you are very sensible, so why __________ so silly about this matter? 5. Why isn't Sarah at work today? __________ ill?