Present continuous and present simple (2)

4 Unit

Present continuous and present simple (2) (I am doing and I do)

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 'possessetc., do not use the continuous (see Unit 17):

• 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 look 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')