🔵non-progressive verbs

Some verbs are rarely or never used in progressive forms, even if we are talking about what is happening at a particular moment.

I don't like her hairstyle. 

I called because I need to talk. 

🔹Many of these verbs refer to states rather than actions. Here is a list of the most common ones.

mental and emotional states; use of the senses assume believe, doubt, feel (= 'have an opinion ), hate, hear, imagine (= suppose) know, (dis) Like, love,

prefer, realise, recognize, regret, remember, see, smell, suppose, taste, think (= 'have an opinion ),understand, want, wish.

I love you."I don't believe you.

I doubt if the train will be on time. Who do you think will win?

I feel it's time for a break.

🔹communicating, causing reactions

(dis)agree, appear astonish, deny, impress, mean, please, promise, satisfy, seem, surprise'

What do you mean?

 We seem to have a problem. .

Your attitude surprises me.

🔹other state verbs

be, belong, concern, consist, cost, depend, deserve, fit, have (='possess'), include, involve, Lack, matter measure (= 'have length etc'), need, owe, own, possess, resemble, weigh (='have weight')

Who does this car belong to?

 I need help.

 'I'm late'' 'It doesn't matter.'

🔵progressive and non-progressive uses Some of these verbs may occasionally be used in progressive forms, especially to emphasis the idea of change, development or novelty.

As I get older, I'm remembering less and less.

I didn't expect to like this place, but I'm really loving it.

🔹Some others are used in progressive forms with particular meanings. Compare:

What do you think of her singing? 

What are you thinking about?

I weigh too much these days. 

I got a shock when I was weighing myself this morning.

🔹Look (meaning 'seem') can often be progressive or not, with little difference.

You look / You're looking a bit tired today.

🔹Smell and taste can be progressive when we are talking about the deliberate use of the senses to find

something out. Compare:

. I (can) smell smoke

'What are you doing?' 'I'm smelling the fish to see if it's OK.'

 The soup tastes wonderful. 

 I think I (can) taste garlic in it.

'Leave that cake alone!' 'I'm just tasting it to see if it's OK.'

🔹Feel (referring to physical sensations) can be progressive or not, with little difference.

I feel / I'm feeling fine.

🔹See can be progressive when it means 'meet' Compare

I (can) see john over there.

I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow.

🔘NOTES

1:use of can

 Can n is often used with see, hear, feel, taste, smell, understand and remember to give a progressive meaning, especially in British English. 

I can see Sue coming down the road. 

Can you smell burning?

I can remember when there were no houses here.

2:perfect tenses

 Want, need and mean can have present perfect progressive us; need and want can have future progressive uses.

I've been wanting to meet you for years 

.Will you be needing the car today?

There's something I've been meaning to tell you.

3:-ing forms

 Even verbs which are never progressive have -ing forms which can be used in other kinds of structure.

Knowing her tastes, I bought her chocolate.

I got all the way to the station without realising I was wearing my slippers.

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