Non-Continuous Verbs: Features, Sentence Examples, and Tables

In English, there are a number of certain verbs that have their own characteristics and are not used in groups of long tenses.

The concepts of dynamic and static verbs

English verbs can be divided into two subcategories: static and dynamic.

Dynamic mean physical action, activity, development, movement. They are used in all temporary forms, including a group of long times. There are several interesting features that distinguish them from static ones. Actions expressed by dynamic verbs can be consciously performed over a period of time and control the duration of the process. For example, words like run (run), read (read), speak (speak), learn (learn), dance (dance), work (work). Moreover, this activity can be portrayed. For example, draw, capture on a camera or take a photo in the process.

Static verbs express not a process, but a state. These are verbs that are not used in Continuous. The name stative verbs comes from the word state - state. Also there are such names as nonprogressive, non-action verbs. They are used to describe existing conditions.

Features of static verbs

At first glance, it may seem that it is difficult to remember the following list of unrelated foreign words. However, it is most important to understand the principle. There are several features that will help you see the point:

• these verbs do not indicate a physical action or process;
• some of them convey those states that arise on their own, regardless of the person’s intention (smell - to smell, hear - to hear);
• part of the words means a lightning action that cannot occur over a long period of time (notice - notice).

Verbs not used in Continuous (Stative Verbs)

For more convenient memorization, Stative Verbs are conditionally divided into thematic subgroups.

1. Cognitive activity and state of consciousness:

• agree / disagree - to agree / disagree;
• believe - believe, pin hopes, trust;
• deny - to deny;
• doubt - to doubt;
• expect - to expect;
• forget - to forget;
• know - to have an idea, to know, to be in the know;
• mean - keep in mind;
• mind - to be against, to object;
• realise - to be aware;
• recognize - recognize;
• understand - comprehend, interpret, understand.

2. Verbs not used in Continuous are used to express emotional state and feelings:

• admire - to admire, admire;
• appreciate - evaluate, appreciate;
• impress - to impress;
• respect - respect;
• love - to love, adore;
• hate - to hate, to dislike;
• seem - to seem;
• envy - envy;
• trust - trust.

3. Desire, preferences:

• desire - to desire;
• need - to need;
• prefer - give preference;
• want - want;
• wish - to strive, desire, make a request.

4. Words that indicate the perception of the senses (verbs not used in Continuous).

Often used with the modal verbs can, could to indicate perception at the time of narration:

• hear - hear;
• see - look, see;
• smell - exude aroma, smell;
• taste - to have a taste.

5. Affiliation, attitude:

• belong - to belong, to be someone else's property, to relate to (any group), to be appropriate;
• concern - relate, relate, be concerned, be interested, deal with;
• consist - consist in contain;
• contain - contain, contain;
• depend (on) - depend (on someone, something), rely on (someone), count;
• differ - have a difference, disagree;
• equal - equal, be similar, draw an analogy;
• fit - fit, fit, match;
• have - have;
• include - include, cover;
• involve - involve;
• lack - lack;
• matter - to matter, to be important;
• owe - to be in debt, to have debt;
• own - to possess;
• possess - possess, possess;
• resemble - resemble, be like.

Mixed Verbs

There is a certain group of static verbs that are used in the group of long tenses. But at the same time, they acquire slightly different shades of meaning. These are polysemic words that hide more than one meaning in themselves.

Some verbs that are not used in Continuous can sometimes be used in the form of a long time in order to demonstrate strong emotions, express admiration or indignation:

I am loving this city! - I love this town!

She's hating that book. - She hates that book.

Verbs to be and to have

To be is sometimes used in English in the form of an extended time in the case when it is necessary to focus on a person’s behavior or the state in which he is currently.

The verb be in Past Continuous is formed by combining was, were and the present participle with the ending of being ( being ).

The have verb Present Continuous is used only in some cases. In the English language, there are certain stable expressions that form a single whole.

In this case, the word “to be” acts as an auxiliary verb. Therefore, you should not make a mistake using the hash verb in Continuous. In this case, the third-person form is formed by combining the auxiliary verb is and the semantic verb with the ending -ing (present participle).

Examples of the use of mixed-type verbs

Any theoretical material is much easier to master if you illustrate the rules with specific examples. Verbs that are not used in Continuous are quite easy to remember thanks to an understanding of the principle and division into semantic subgroups. And with the memorization of mixed verbs there may be some difficulties associated with polysemantics (that is, polysemy).

One of the best ways to master new grammar material is to independently come up with a few examples for a particular topic and start incorporating them into your speech, using in dialogs, as well as when writing essays.