State Verbs

State verbs are verbs, which do not normally have continuous tenses because they describe a state rather than an action. These include:

• verbs that express likes and dislikes: like, love, hate, prefer, enjoy, adore, etc.;

• verbs of mental perception: believe, know, remember, forget, recognize, understand, realize, seem, think, etc.

• verbs of sense perception: see, hear, feel, taste, look, smell, sound.

• some other verbs: be, contain, fit, include, matter, need, belong cost, owe, own, appear (=seem), want, have (=possess), etc.

Some state verbs have continuous tenses, but there is a difference in meaning. Study the following examples:

1. I think he’s lying. (= believe)	I’m thinking about the plan. ( = am considering)
2. The food tastes delicious. (= has a delicious flavour)	He is tasting the food. (= is trying)
3. I see some people. (= perceive with my eyes)	I’m seeing my lawyer tomorrow. (= am meeting)
4. It looks as if they’ve finished the job. (= seem)	She is looking out of the window.
5. The perfume smells nice. (= has a nice smell)	He is smelling the milk. (= is sniffing)
6. The baby’s hair feels like silk. (has the texture of)	She is feeling the baby’s forehead. (= is touching)
7. He has a car. (= possesses)	He’s having lunch. (= eating)
8. The baby weighs 3 kilos. (has a weight of)	She is weighing the baby. (= is measuring how heavy it is)
9. This dress fits you perfectly. (= it’s the right size)	We’re fitting new locks. (= are putting in)
10. He appears to be nervous. (=seems)	He is appearing in a new play. (= is taking part)
11. He is a rude person. (= character – permanent state)	He is being rude. (= behaviour – temporary situation)

Note. a) The verb enjoy can be used in continuous tenses to express specific preference. E.g. I’m enjoying this party a lot. But: I enjoy going to parties.

b) The verbs look (when we refer to a person’s appearance), feel (experience a particular emotion), hurt and ache can be used in either the continuous or simple tenses with no difference in meaning. E.g. You look / are looking great today.

1. Put the verbs in brackets into the present simple or present continuous. A.)

1. A: ................... (you / know) that man over there? B: Actually, I do. He’s our new boss. 2. A: Are you doing anything tomorrow evening? B: Yes. I ...... (see) Jack at nine o’clock. 3. A: I .... (see) you’re feeling better. B: Yes, I am, thank you. 4. A: What’s that noise? B: The people next door .... (have) a party. 5. A: Tom .... (have) a new computer. B: I .... (know). I’ve already seen it. 6. A: This dress ....... (not / fit) me any more. B: Why don’t you buy a new one? 7. A: Your perfume ..... (smell) nice. B: It’s a new perfume called Sunshine. 8. A: What is Jane doing? B: She .... (smell) the flows in the garden. 9. A: What ......... (you / look) at? B: Some photos I took during my holidays. 10. A: You .... (look) very pretty today. B: Thank you. I’ve just had my hair cut. 11. A: I .... (think) we’re being followed. B: Don’t be silly. It’s just your imagination. 12. A: Is anything wrong? B: No, I .... (think) about my report. 13. A: This fabric ..... (feel) like silk. B: It is silk, and it’s very expensive. 14. A: What .... (you / do)? B: I ..... (feel) the radiator to see if it’s getting warm. 15. A: She .... (be) generous, isn’t she? B: Yes, she has never been a mean person. 16. A: He ..... (be) very quiet today, isn’t he? B: Yes, I think he has problems.17. A: Would you like some cherries? B: Yes, please. I ..... (love) cherries. 18. A: I’m sorry, but I ...... (not understand) what you ... (mean). B: Shall I explain it again? 19. A: The children are making lots of noise today. B: I know, but they .... (have) fun. 20. A: This cake ..... (taste) awful. B: I think I forgot to put the sugar in it!

B.) 1. A: Why .... (you / smell) the soap? B: It ... (smell) lovely. It’s like roses. 2. A: Why ... (you / taste) the soup? B: To see is it .... (taste) good. I think it needs more salt. 3. A: I ... (see) Andy this evening. B: I ...(see). So, you don’t want to come to the cinema with me. 4. A: How much .... (the bag / weigh)? B: I don’t know yet. The man .... (weigh) the bag now. 5. A: I ... (think) about buying a new car soon. B: Why, I ...(think) your car is fine. 6. A: I ... (feel) very tired today. B: You should go to bed early. 7. A: What ... (you / look) at? B: The sky. It ... (look) as if it’s going to rain. 8. A: I really ... (enjoy) home-made food. B: So do I, and I .... (enjoy) every bit of this meal. 9. A: Why .... (feel) the radiator? B: It ..... (feel) cold in here. Is the heating on? 10. A: The famous opera singer ... (appear) at the opera house tonight. B: Yes. He ... (appear) to be feeling better after the operation. 11. A: Chris .... (be) a sensible person, isn’t he? B: Yes, but in this case, he .... (be) rather foolish. 12. A: My dad ... (fit) the old blind from the living room in my bedroom now. B: Really? ..... (it / fit) that window? 13. A: My back .... (hurt). B: Why don’t you lie down for a while?

2. Put the verbs into the present continuous, present perfect or present perfect continuous.

1. A: How long _____________ (you / know) Alison? B: We ___________ (be) friends since we graduated from the University. 2. A: Who _________ (use) my car? B: I have. Is it a problem? 3. A: What _____________ (they / do) at the moment? B: They _________ (work) in the garden for three hours. 4. A: I ___________ (always / believe) that exercise is good for you. B: Of course, it’s good to keep fit. 5. A: Why is Andy upset? B: She ____________ (lose) her bag. 6. A: Mr. Hews __________ (teach) maths since he graduated. B: Yes, and he is a very good teacher. 7. A: Fred _______________ (work) on his book for a year. B: I know. He __________ (already / write) 2 chapters. 8. A: This problem is quite difficult. B: I ___________ (not / try) to solve it yet. 9. A: ____________ (the police / find) the murderer? B: Not yet. They ______________ (look) for him for a month. 10. A: You look exhausted. B: Yes. I ____________ (study) all day. 11. A: Can I have some lemonade, please? B: Sorry, your brother ____________ (just / drink) it all.

3. Choose the correct answer.

1. A: What time does the train leave? B: I think it … at 2 o’clock.

a) leaves b) has been leaving c) has left

2. A: Where are Tom and Pauline? B: They … to the supermarket.

a) have just gone b) have been going c) go

3. A: What is Jill doing? B: She …. for a job for six months.

a) is looking b) has been looking c) looks

4. A: Is Mandy watching TV? B: No. She … her homework right now.

a) is always doing b) is doing c) does

5. A: Have you been for a walk? B: Yes. I often … for a walk in the evenings.

a) have gone b) am going c) go

6. A: Have you seen any films lately? B: Yes. Actually, I … two films this week.

a) have seen b) am seeing c) see

7. A: What …? B: It’s a piece of cherry pie. Mum made it yesterday.

a) are you eating b) do you eat c) have you eaten

8. A: Are you going on holiday this summer? B: Yes. I … enough money.

a) am saving b) have already saved c) save

9. A: Is Todd reading the newspaper? B: No. He … dinner at the moment.

a) is making b) makes c) has been making has been making

10. A: Have you bought any new CDs recently? B: Yes. I … two this month.

a) have bought b) have been buying c) am buying

11. A: What time does the play start? B: I think it … at 8 o’clock.

a) has been starting b) starts c) has started

12. A: Where is Mark? B: He … to the library to return some books.

a) has gone b) has been c) is going

13. A: What …? B: it’s a letter to my penfriend. I’m telling her my news.

a) have you written b) do you write c) are you writing

4. Put the verbs into the correct Present tense.

1. A: What ___________ (you / do)? B: Nothing. I __________ (just / finish) my lunch. 2. A: Where _______ (you / be) all morning? B: I __________ (clean) the house since 8 o’clock. 3. A: _________ (you / do) anything next week? B: No, I __________ (not / make) any plans yet. 4. A: Jane looks great. _____________ (she / lose / weight)? B: Yes, she ___________ (exercise) a lot recently. 5. A: __________ (be / you) busy right now? B: Yes, I ___________ (just / start) typing this report. 6. A: Where is Peter? B: He ____________ (wash) the car at the moment. 7. A: Who _______ (be) your favourite actor? B: I _________ (like) Sean Connery since I was a child. 8. A: ______________ (you / do) your homework yet? B: Almost, I _____________ (do) it now.