We use continuous tenses only for actions and happenings (they are eating/it is raining etc.).
Some verbs (for example, know and like) are not action verbs. You cannot say 'I am knowing' or ,they are liking'; you can only say 'I know', 'they like'. The following verbs are not normally used in continuous tenses:
like love hate want need prefer know realise suppose mean understand believe remember belong contain consist depend seem
* 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', do not use the continuous:
* 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?)
* I'm thinking of giving up my job. (= I am considering)
When have means 'possess' etc., do not use the continuous.
* We're enjoying our holiday. We have a nice room in the hotel. (not 'we're having')
but * We're enjoying our holiday. We're having a great time.
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?
But you can use the continuous with see (I'm seeing) when the meaning is 'having a meeting with' (especially in the future--see Unit 19A):
* I'm seeing the manager tomorrow morning.
He is selfish and He is being selfish. 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:
* 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 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')
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
4.1 Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.
1. I'm seeing the manager tomorrow morning. RIGHT
2. I'm feeling hungry. Is there anything to eat? ---
3. Are you believing in God? ---
4. This sauce is great. It's tasting really good. ---
5. I'm thinking this is your key. Am I right? ---
4.2 Look at the pictures. Use the words in brackets to make sentences.
1. (you/not/seem/very happy today) You don't seem very happy today.
2. (what/you/do?) ---
Be quiet! (I/think) ---
3. (who/this umbrella/belong to?) --- I've no idea.
4. (the dinner/smell/good) ---
5. Excuse me. (anybody/sit/here?) --- . No, it's free
6. Can you ring me back in half an hour? (I/have/dinner) ---
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?
Answers:
4.1 2 right 3 wrong--Do you believe 4 wrong--It tastes 5 wrong--I think
4.2 2 What are you doing? I'm thinking. 3 Who does this umbrella belong to? 4 The dinner smells good. 5 Is anybody sitting here? 6 I'm having dinner.
4.3 2 doesn't belong/does not belong 3 'm using/am using 4 need 5 does he want 6 is he looking
7 believes 8 don't remember/do not remember 9 'm thinking/am thinking 10 think ... don't use/do not use 11 prefer 12 consists
4.4 2 is being 3 is 4 are you being 5 Is she
