The Present Continuous tense is commonly used to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking or temporary situations. However, using state verbs (also called “stative verbs”) in the continuous form can be tricky because state verbs typically describe states or conditions rather than actions. This article will explain how and when to use state verbs in the Present Continuous form, including exceptions, special cases, and plenty of examples to help you understand their usage better. Keep reading Present Continuous of State Verbs: Uses and Examples and master this aspect of English grammar.
1. What Are State Verbs?
State verbs describe a state or condition rather than an action. They refer to emotions, senses, thoughts, possession, relationships, or existence. Because they describe states that are not usually dynamic, they are generally not used in continuous forms. They are usually used in the Present Simple tense.
Common State Verbs:
- Verbs of Emotion: love, hate, prefer, like, dislike
- Verbs of Senses: see, hear, taste, smell, feel
- Verbs of Thinking: know, believe, think, understand, remember, forget
- Verbs of Possession: have, own, possess, belong
- Verbs of Existence and Relationships: be, seem, belong, consist, contain
Examples of State Verbs in Simple Tense:
- I know the answer.
- She has a car.
- They belong to the same club.
2. Present Continuous of State Verbs: General Rule
Generally, state verbs are not used in the continuous form. For instance, it is not common to say:
- I am knowing the answer. ✗
- She is having a car. ✗
Instead, the correct form is:
- I know the answer. ✔
- She has a car. ✔
However, there are exceptions where some state verbs can be used in the Present Continuous form, but the meaning changes or is specific to certain contexts.
3. Exceptions: When State Verbs Can Be Used in the Present Continuous
While the general rule is that state verbs are not used in continuous forms, there are situations where they can be. These exceptions typically occur when the verb is used in a different context or has a different meaning. Here are some state verbs that can be used in the continuous form with examples:
a. “Think”
- Simple Present (State): I think you are right. (Opinion)
- Present Continuous (Action): I am thinking about moving to a new city. (Considering or reflecting)
b. “Have”
- Simple Present (State): She has a pet dog. (Possession)
- Present Continuous (Action): She is having a great time at the party. (Experiencing)
c. “See”
- Simple Present (State): I see a bird outside. (Perception)
- Present Continuous (Action): I am seeing a doctor tomorrow. (Arranged meeting)
d. “Feel”
- Simple Present (State): I feel cold. (Physical sensation or emotional state)
- Present Continuous (Action): I am feeling better today. (Temporary state)
e. “Be”
- Simple Present (State): She is very kind. (Permanent characteristic)
- Present Continuous (Action): She is being very rude today. (Temporary behavior)
4. More Examples to Clarify the Difference
- “Love”
- Simple Present: I love chocolate. (Permanent preference)
- Present Continuous: He is loving his new job. (Temporary enjoyment, less formal and less common)
- “Taste”
- Simple Present: This soup tastes delicious. (State)
- Present Continuous: The chef is tasting the soup. (Action of tasting)
- “Look”
- Simple Present: You look tired. (State or appearance)
- Present Continuous: She is looking for her keys. (Action)
5. Present Continuous: State Verbs
State verbs generally describe conditions, emotions, thoughts, senses, possession, and relationships and are not typically used in the Present Continuous form (e.g., She is very kind). However, certain state verbs can appear in the Present Continuous tense when their meanings change to describe actions, temporary situations, or specific contexts (e.g., She is being very rude today).
