9.1 The simple present and present progressive tenses (1)
9.1 C Stative and dynamic verbs [> LEG 9.3, ~pp 381
Study:
(**I
1 We call a few verbs like love stative because they refer to 'states'. A state has no beginning
and no end. We don't 'control' it, so we don't normally use stative verbs in progressive tenses:
She loves her baby more than anything. (Not 'is loving')
2 Most verbs in English are dynamic. We can use them in two ways:
- in the simple present tense to describe habits, etc. [> 9.161: 1 often make cakes.
- in the present progressive to describe deliberate actions in progress [> 9.281:
I'm making a cake.
3 We can describe three classes of verbs:
a Dynamic verbs which have simple or progressive forms (most verbs in English):
I often listen to records. (simple present tense)
I'm listening to a record. (present progressive tense)
b Verbs which are always stative:
This coat belongs to you. (simple present tense) (Not 'is belonging')
c Verbs that have stative or dynamic uses:
I'm weighlng myself. (a deliberate action: present progressive tense)
I weigh 65 kilos. (a state) (Not *I'm weighing 65 kilos. ')
4 There are five groups of stative verbs referring to: a feelings (like, love, etc.);
b thinkinglbelieving (think, understand, etc.) c wants (want, prefer, etc.)
d perception (hear, see, etc. [> 11.281) e beinglhavinglowning (appear, seem, belong, etc. [> 10.41
Write: Tick the sentences that are right. Cross out the verbs that are wrong and correct them.
la You're never ill.
I envy you.
d
2a I understand English well. -
3a You're knowing what I mean. -
4a Is he seeming unfriendly? -
5a I prefer fish to meat. -
6a Do you see that bird over there? -
7a Why is he smelling his coffee? -
8a She's weighing herself again. -
I b You're never ill. I'm envying you. -
2b I'm understanding English well. -
3b You know what I mean. -
4b Does he seem unfriendly? -
5b I'm preferring fish to meat. -
6b Are you seeing John tomorrow? -
7b Something smells strange. -
8b She weighs 75.5 kilos. -
9.1D Context
Write: Put in the simple present or the present progressive tenses.
CHOMP CHAMP!
'(you sit) ...h.%
[email protected].. comfortably? Good! I 2(hope) ................................... you =(study)
................................... this text carefully because I 4(have) ................................... news for you. The
Guinness Book of Records =(not include) ................................... records for eating any more. People
who =(try) ................................... to swallow 47 hard boiled eggs in half a minute will have to do it for
~ ~
pleasure and not to get into the record book. 'We '(regard) ................................... these records as
unhealthy,' said the book's editor, Mr Donald McFarlan. However, one record-holder will remain. He is
Michel Lotito of Grenoble ('Monsieur Mangetout'). Since 1966, he has chomped his way through 10
bicycles, 7 TV sets and a light aircraft. He's likely to remain world champ, unless you 8(want)
................................... to challenge him, of course!
Chomp! chomp1