Verbs not used in Continuous: features, examples of sentences and tables

In English there are a number of certain verbs that have their own characteristics and are not used in groups of long times.

Concepts of dynamic and static verbs

English verbs can be conditionally divided into two subcategories: static and dynamic.

Dynamic implies physical action, activity, development, movement. They are used in all time forms, including a group of long periods. There are several interesting features that distinguish them from static ones. Actions expressed by dynamic verbs can be consciously performed for a certain period of time and control the duration of the process. For example, words like run, read, speak, learn, dance, work. In addition, this activity can be portrayed. For example, draw, capture on a camera or take pictures in the process.

Static verbs express not the process, but the state. These are verbs that are not used in Continuous. The name stative verbs comes from the word state - state. Also there are such names as nonprogressive, non-action verbs. They are used to describe existing states.

Features of static verbs

At first glance, it may seem that it is difficult to remember the following list of non-related foreign words. However, the most important thing here is to understand the principle. There are several features that will help to see the point:

• These verbs do not indicate a physical action or process;
• Some of them convey those states that arise by themselves, regardless of the person's intention (smell - smell, hear - hear);
• Some words mean a lightning action that can not occur for a long period of time (notice - notice).

Verbs not used in Continuous (Stative Verbs)

For more convenient memorization Stative Verbs are conditionally divided into thematic subgroups.

1. Thinking activity and state of consciousness:

• Agree / disagree - to be willing / disagree;
• Believe - believe, trust, trust;
• Deny - to deny;
• Doubt - to doubt;
• Expect - expect;
• Forget - forget;
• Know - to have an idea, to know, to be aware of;
• Mean - keep in mind;
• Mind - to be against, to object;
• Realise - to be aware;
• Recognize - learn;
• Understand - comprehend, interpret, understand.

2. Verbs not used in Continuous are used to express the emotional state and feelings:

• Admire - to admire;
• Appreciate - appreciate, appreciate;
• Impress - to impress;
• Respect - respect;
• Love - love, adore;
• Hate - hate, dislike;
• Seem - to seem;
• Envy - to envy;
• Trust - trust.

3. Desire, preferences:

• Desire - desire;
• Need - need;
• Prefer - give preference;
• Want - want;
• Wish - to aspire, to desire, to make a request.

4. Words that denote the perception of the sense organs (verbs not used in Continuous).

Often used with modal verbs can, could be used to refer to perception at the time of narration:

• Hear - hear;
• See - see, see;
• Smell - exhale aroma, smell;
• Taste - to have a taste.

5. Belonging, attitude:

• Belong - belong, be someone else's property, belong to (any group), be relevant;
• Concern - concern, concern, be concerned, be interested, deal;
• Consist - contain contain;
• Contain - contain, contain;
• Depend (on) - depend (from someone, something), rely on (someone), count;
• Differ - to differ, to disagree;
• Equal - to be equal, to be similar, to draw an analogy;
• Fit - fit, match, match;
• Have - have;
• Include - include, embrace;
• Involve - involve;
• Lack - to lack;
• Matter is important, important;
• Owe - be due, have a debt;
• Own - to possess;
• Possess - own, possess;
• Resemble - be like, be like.

Verbs of mixed type

There is a certain group of static verbs that are used in a group of long periods. But at the same time they acquire somewhat different shades of meaning. These are polysemantic words that hide in themselves more than one meaning.

Some verbs that are not used in Continuous can sometimes be applied in the form of a long time in order to demonstrate strong emotions, express admiration or indignation:

I am loving this city! - I love this city!

She's hating that book. "She hates that book."

The verbs to be and to have

To be sometimes used in English in the form of extended time in the event that it is necessary to emphasize the behavior of a person or the state in which he is currently living.

The verb be in the Past Continuous is formed by the combination of was, were and the present participle with the ingoing ending ( being ).

The verb have in the Present Continuous is used only in some cases. In English there are certain stable expressions that form a single whole.

In the role of auxiliary verb in this case is the word "to be". Therefore, one should not make the mistake of using the verb has in Continuous. In this case, the form of the third person is formed by a combination of the auxiliary verb is and the semantic verb with the ending -ing (the present participle).

Examples of using mixed-type verbs

Any theoretical material is much easier to master if you illustrate the rules with concrete examples. Verbs that are not used in Continuous are fairly easy to remember due to the understanding of the principle and division into semantic subgroups. And with the memorization of mixed verbs, there may be some difficulties associated with polysemantic (that is, multi-valued).

One of the best ways to learn new material on grammar is to think up several examples for a specific topic and start to include them in your speech, using them in dialogues, as well as writing essays.