The present continuous tense is very common in English,
but some verbs are usually not used in it (or in any tense
showing the continuous aspect). Here is a list of some
common verbs that are not usually continuous:
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:
not this: I'm believing you.
but this: I believe you.
not this: That car is costing $22,000.
but this: That car costs $22,000.
not this: He's hating to get up early.
but this: He hates to get up early.
not this: You're owing me five dollars!
but this: You owe me five dollars!
not this: Is this sentence seeming correct?
but this: Does this sentence seem correct?
not this: Coffee is tasting bitter.
but this: Coffee tastes bitter.
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Special Note:
Some of the above verbs (the ones with *) have
more than one meaning, however, and at least one
of those meanings can be used in continuous tenses.
We'll take a look at these verbs in the next Hint.
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