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Non-progressive verbs

Verbs not often used in progressive (‘continuous’) forms​

Some verbs are not often used in progressive forms.

  • I like this music. (not I’m liking this music.)
  • I called her because I needed to talk. (not ... because I was needing to talk.)

Some other verbs are not used in progressive forms when they have certain meanings (see below). Compare:

  • I’m seeing the doctor at ten o’clock.
  • I see what you mean. (not I’m seeing what you mean.)

Many of these non-progressive verbs refer to states rather than actions. Some refer to mental states (e.g. know, think, believe); some others refer to the use of the senses (e.g. smell, taste).

Modal verbs (e.g. can, must) have no progressive forms, (see here).

Common non-progressive verbs​

Here is a list of some common verbs which are not often used in progressive forms (or which are not used in progressive forms with certain meanings).

Mental and emotional states​

  • believe
  • doubt
  • feel (= have an opinion)
  • hate
  • imagine
  • know
  • (dis)like
  • love
  • prefer
  • realise
  • recognise
  • remember
  • see (= understand)
  • suppose
  • think (= have an opinion)
  • understand
  • want
  • wish

Use of the senses​

  • feel
  • hear
  • see
  • smell
  • sound
  • taste

Communicating and causing reactions​

  • agree
  • appear
  • astonish
  • deny
  • disagree
  • impress
  • look (= seem)
  • mean
  • please
  • promise
  • satisfy
  • seem
  • surprise

Other​

  • be
  • belong
  • concern
  • consist
  • contain
  • depend
  • deserve
  • fit
  • include
  • involve
  • lack
  • matter
  • measure (= have length, etc)
  • need
  • owe
  • own
  • possess
  • weigh (= have weight)

More details of the use of some of these verbs are given in other entries. See the Index for references.

Progressive and non-progressive uses​

Compare the progressive and non-progressive uses of some of the verbs listed above.

  • I’m feeling fine. (or I feel fine. (see here))
    I feel we shouldn’t do it. (not I’m feeling we shouldn’t do it. – feel here = have an opinion.)
  • What are you thinking about?
    What do you think of the government? (not What are you thinking of the government? — think here = have an opinion.)
  • I’m seeing Leslie tomorrow.
    I see what you mean. (not I’m seeing what you mean. — see here = understand.)
  • Why are you smelling the meat? Is it bad?
    Does the meat smell bad? (not Is the meat smelling bad? (see here).)
  • I’m just tasting the cake to see if it’s OK.
    The cake tastes wonderful. (not The cake’s tasting wonderful. (see here).)
  • The scales broke when I was weighing myself this morning.
    I weighed 68 kilos three months ago — and look at me now! (not I was weighing 68 kilos ... — weigh here = have weight.)

Occasionally ‘non-progressive’ verbs are used in progressive forms in order to emphasise the idea of change or development.

  • These days, more and more people prefer / are preferring to retire early.
  • The water tastes / is tasting better today.
  • As I get older, I remember / I’m remembering less and less.
  • I’m liking it here more and more as time goes by.

Need, want and mean can have future or present perfect progressive uses.

  • Will you be needing the car this afternoon?
  • I’ve been wanting to go to Australia for years.
  • I’ve been meaning to tell you about Andrew. He ...

can see, etc​

Can is often used with see, hear, feel, taste, smell, understand and remember to give a kind of progressive meaning, especially in British English (see here).

  • I can see Emma coming down the road.
  • Can you smell something burning?

-ing forms​

Even verbs which are never used in progressive tenses have -ing forms which can be used in other kinds of structure.

  • Knowing her tastes, I bought her a large box of chocolates.
  • You can respect people’s views without agreeing with them.