StativeNonprogressive Verbs The following verbs are usually only

Stative/Non-progressive. Verbs § The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not in the progressive form). 1. Mental State: § Know believe imagine need § Want realize feel doubt § Understand suppose think mean § Prefer forget recognize remember

§ § § § 2. Emotional State Love hate fear Dislike envy care 3. Possession Possess have own 4. Sense Perceptions Taste smell hear mind like appreciate belong feel see

5. Other existing states § § § Seem Look Appear cost owe weigh be exist include consist of contain

Verbs that are commonly used as progressive verbs § Non progressive (existing state) § Progressive (activity in progress) § Think- I think he is a kind man. § Have- He has a car. § I am thinking about the problem. § I am having trouble. She is having a good time. § The chef is tasting the soup. § Don is smelling the flowers. § Sue is feeling the mink coat. § I am seeing my friend later today. § I am looking out the window. § The actor is appearing on the stage. § The man is weighing the bananas. § Tom is being foolish. § § § § Taste- This soup tastes good. Smell- These flowers smell good. Feel- The mink coat feels soft. See- I see a butterfly. Look- She looks very depressed. Appears-He appears to be drunk. Weigh--It weighs a lot. Be---I am hungry.

Compare: § Laura is foolish. Foolishness is one of Laura’s characteristics. § Laura is being foolish—Right now Laura is doing something that the speaker considers foolish. § The verb be ( + an adjective) is used in the progressive to describe a temporary characteristic. § Very few adjectives are used with be in the progressive. Ex: foolish, nice, kind, lazy, careful, patient, silly, rude, polite, impolite.