IV. Verbs not Used in the Continuous Form

verbs of sense perception:

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

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, hold (=contain), keep (=continue), matter, measure, resemble, stand for, weigh, allow, astonish, claim, fail to do, forbid, forgive, manage to do, need, prevent, puzzle, result, require, satisfy, signify, feel, succeed, suit, surprise

Verb

Use in the Present Simple

Use in the Present Continuous

be

be= character, permanent state

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.

weigh

weigh = have a weigh of

The chicken weighs 2 kilos.

weigh = measure how heavy smth is

The butcher is weighing the meat.

fit

fit = be the right size

The skirt fits her perfectly.

fit = install, attach

John is fitting a new lock on the front door.

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.

come

come = be descended from

He comes from a rich family.

come = approach

Look! Our bus is coming.

correspond

correspond = have a close similarity

Her expression is concerned but her body-language does not correspond.

correspond = communicate by exchanging letters

Are you still corresponding with your former boyfriend?