5 .Using Present Continuous Tense in Future Meaning
Present Continuous Tense is often used to describe an action or event in the future, which has already
been planned or prepared.
• I am meeting some friends after work.
• We are going to the cinema tonight. Are you coming?
• I am flying to Istanbul tomorrow morning.
• Are you visiting your grandparents next week?
6. Non-progressive ( Stative) verbs: Verbs which are not used in
continuous form.
A continuous tense is used to describe an activity, which is visibly, and physically done. Therefore,
some verbs having stative meanings (mental verbs such as “know and understand”, emotional verbs such
as “love and hate”, verbs of possession such as “have and own”, verbs of sense perception such as “taste
and smell” etc.) are not used in continuous form; they are used in simple tenses.
MENTAL STATE
know, realize, understand, recognize
believe, feel, suppose, think
imagine, doubt, remember, forget
want, need, desire, mean
EMOTIONAL STATE
love, like, appreciate, please, prefer
hate, dislike, fear, envy
mind,care,astonish, surprise, amaze
POSSESSION
have, belong, possess, own
SENSE PERCEPTION
taste, smell, hear, feel, see
OTHER STATIVE VERBS
look, seem, appear, sound, resemble, look like
cost, owe, weigh, equal
be, exist, matter,
consist of, include,contain
The verbs written in blue can be used in both progressive and non-progressive form with a change in meaning.
See the examples:
THINK
(a) “What do you think about the new English teacher?” “ I think he is a nice man !”
(b) I am thinking about the exam tomorrow. It will be a difficult one.
In (a) think is a stative verb which shows opinion. In (b) on the other hand, think is a continious
action which is physical and visible. You can sometimes see people thinking and understand that
they are doing this activity.
HAVE
(c) I have two cats and a dog. Do you have any pets?
(d) I am having a nice time in my speaking classes.
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