The ESL HELP! Desk

In our earlier lessons, we studied the progessive verb tenses (also called continuous verb tenses).  We studied, for example, present progressive and past progressive. There are some verbs that are not commonly used in the progressive tenses.  Join us in this lesson as we learn more about this.

Before you begin the activities, you may want to study the podcast and grammar lesson, He's Always Talking about Grammar , also in our Library.

After you complete the activities, at the bottom of this page, you will be able to check your answers by following the link provided.

What Is a Nonprogressive Verb?

There are some verbs that are not commonly used in the progressive tenses.  These verbs are known as nonprogressive verbs.

For present or past time reference when you want to use a nonprogressive verb, in most cases, use simple present or simple past, whichever is required from the context.  

Problem:  Listen!  I am hearing birds singing.
Solution:  Listen!  I hear birds singing.

Which Verbs are Not Commonly Used in the Progressive Tenses?

Clauses Indicating:
Verbs of Perception and Sense:	feel, hear*, see*, feel*, taste*
Verbs of Cognition and Mental Processes:	doubt, know, look*, realize, remember, think*, want, wish, understand, etc.
Verbs of Emotion:	like, dislike, hate, love, feel, miss, care, etc.
Other:	appear, be*, consist of, cost, deserve, equal, have*, need, require, need, seem, belong to, consist of, cost, etc.
*  These verbs can be used in the progressive tenses but in the progressive tenses their meaning is different.

Changes in Meaning

A stative verb in the progessive tense often has a different meaning from the same verb in the simple present tense.  Look at some examples below:

EXAMPLE 1:  (to) think

Simple Present:	What do you think about school prayer?
Meaning:	What is your opinion about...?
Present Progressive:	You're very quiet right now.  What are you thinking about?
Meaning:	What thoughts are going through your mind right now?

EXAMPLE 2  (to) see

Simple Present:	When I look at the sky, I see millions of stars.
Meaning:	...I observe with my eyes...
Present Progressive:	I am seeing John.  We've been seeing each other for three months.
Meaning:	I am dating John. (This refers to a steady social and romantic  relationship.)

EXAMPLE 3  (to) have

Simple Present:	I have four brothers.
Meaning:	In my family, I am one of 5 sons...
Present Progressive:	She is having a baby!
Meaning:	She is pregnant.

Now you can listen to sentences in which the nonprogressive verbs are being used correctly.  Click here!

Next...Present Perfect Tense

Our next unit is the Present Perfect Tense

So from the ESL Help Desk, thanks for dropping by for this lesson and remember to email us your questions about English grammar by leaving a comment on our blog.

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