Non-continuous verbs

 5

Verbs – not usually used
in Continuous Tenses

There are certain verbs which are not usually used in the Present Continuous or any other continuous verb form.

The meanings of some verbs intrinsically make it impossible to be a temporary situation.

  • I’m believing your explanation   is not possible
  • I believe your explanation  is possible

If we believe something, it is part of our opinion and is not temporary and is not possible with the Present Continuous

Try our exercise for non-continuous verbs >>

Many of these non-continuous verbs refer to states rather than actions

Here is a list of some common verbs that are not usually continuous:

Mental and emotional states

Believe  doubt  feel (opinion)  imagine  know  (dis)like  love  hate  prefer  recognise  remember  suppose  think (opinion) want  wish

Use of the senses

Appear  look (= ‘seem’)  hear  see  smell  taste

Communicating and reaction

Agree  astonish  deny  impress  please  disagree  mean  promise  surprise

Other

Be  belong  concern  containing  depend  deserve  fit  include  involve  matter  need  owe  own  possess  weigh  cost

If you are looking for English language and grammar EXERCISES, try here >>

Continuous and non-continuous uses

appear*
appreciate*
be*
believe
belong
care
contain
cost
doubt
desire
dislike
equal
envy
fear
feel*
forget
  hate
have*
hear
imagine*
include*
know
like
love
matter
mean
mind*
need
owe
own
prefer
possess
  realize
recognize
remember*
resemble
see*
seem
smell*
sound
suppose
surprise
taste*
think*
understand
want
weigh

 

 

Example sentences:

  • I’m understanding you.  Is not possible*
    I understand you.             Is possible
  • His new house is costing $320,000.   Is not possible
    That house costs $320,000.                Is possible
  • He’s liking to do exercise in the morning.   Is not possible
    He likes to do exercise in the morning.     Is possible
  • You’re weighing ninety-five kilos!   Is not possible*
    You weigh ninety-five kilos!            Is possible
  • Is this fish smelling good to you?    Is not possible*
    Does this fish smell good to you?   Is possible
  • Are you agreeing with me?    Is not possible
    Do you agree with me?         Is possible

in special situations, when we want to give special emphasis to an idea, non-continuous verbs are occasionally used in continuous forms:

Example

  • The water is tasting better today

Go here to see an Introduction to the Present Continuous >>

Continuous and non-continuous verbs with different meanings

In the next section we will show you some examples of how some verbs can be used in continuous tenses with one meaning but not with another:

Example:

  • What are you thinking about?  (here “think” = process of thinking)
  • What do you think about the new teachers at your school? ( here “think” = your opinion)
  • What are you thinking about your new teachers?  Is not possible