Present Continuous Tense: Present Continuous Tense #6

Dennis Oliver

Verbs with Both Continuous
and
Non-Continuous Meanings

Many English verbs are not usually used in continuous
tenses (including the present continuous). Some of these
verbs have more than one common meaning, however,
and at least one of the meanings canbe used in
continuous tenses. Here are some common ones:

appear
be
feel
have
imagine
include

mind
remember
see
smell
taste
think

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Special Notes:

Verb		Notes
appear		One meaning is "seem"; it's non-continuous. Another meaning is "be somewhere as a performer, speaker, etc."; it's continuous.

be		The normal meaning for be is non-continuous; There's also another meaning (used with adjectives): "behave." This meaning is continuous.

feel		One meaning is something like "think" or "believe." A second meaning is something like "touch." A third meaning describes one's physical or mental condition. The first meaning is non-continuous. The other meanings are continuous.

have		The normal meaning is "possess'; this meaning is non-continuous. Several other meanings are continuous: (1) "have a good (etc.) time" (= [not] enjoy oneself"; (2) "give birth." (3) "be involved in ___ " (a meeting, discussion, bath, etc. (4) "eat or drink"

imagine		One meaning is something like "pretend"; it's non-continuous. Another meaning is something like "guess" or "suppose"; it's continuous.

include		One meaning shows the things that are part of another thing; this meaning is non-continuous. Another meaning is something like "put in" or "enclose" or "add to"; this meaning is continuous.

mind		The most common meaning is something like "object to"; it's non-continuous. Another meaning is something like "obey"; this meaning is continuous.

remember		One meaning is "recall" and is non-continuous. Another meaning describes a mental action and is continuous.

see		The most common meaning is similar to "look"; it's non-continous. Another meaning is something like "go with" (have regular dates with); it's continuous.

smell		The physical action of using one's nose to detect an odor or fragrance is continuous. The "linking verb" meaning (where you *describe how* something smells) is non-continuous.

taste		The physical action of "testing" something by eating or drinking a little of it is continuous. The "linking verb" meaning (where you *describe how* something tastes) is non-continuous.

think		One meaning is something like "believe"; it's non-continuous. Another meaning describes a mental action; it's continuous.

Example sentences:

Non-Continuous		Continuous
He appears to understand us.		My favorite rock band is appearing in Miami next week.

Those children are polite.		Those children are being polite. ( = behaving politely)

I feel that you are trying hard.		I'm feeling much better now. She's feeling her son's forehead to see if he has a fever.

I have a headache.		They're having a good time, aren't they? She's in the hospital because she's having a baby. I can't disturb them. They're having an important meeting. I think they're having lunch in the cafeteria. Sara and Bill are having coffee in the employees' lounge. Let's join them.

I imagine that Joe will be here soon.		I'm not sleeping. I'm imagining what it would be like to win a million dollars..

The price of $300 includes tax.		Bill's a good player. We're including him on our team.

I don't mind if you leave early.		Billy isn't being good. He isn't minding me.

Yes, I remember you! We met in 1997.		I'm remembering my parents. I think of them every time I hear that song.

Yes, I see Sara almost every day.		Bill's seeing Lupe. I think they're going to become engaged.

That rose smells really good.		The dog is smelling. Bob's clothing. I hope the dog can find Bob!

This soup tastes salty.		He's tasting the soup to see if it's OK.

I think that you are 100% correct!		Right now I'm thinking about what you said.

Present Continuous Tense: Present Continuous Tense #6

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