9.1 The simple present and present progressive tenses (1)
9.1 С Stative and dynamic verbs [> LEG 9.3, App зв]
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*)Most verbs in English are dynamic. We can use them in two ways:- in the simple present tense to describe habits, etc. [> 9.1 В]: I often make cakes.
- in the present progressive to describe deliberate actions in progress [> 9.2B]:
I 'm making a cake.
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*)
с Verbs that have stative or dynamic uses:
I'm weighing myself, (a deliberate action: present progressive tense)
I weigh 65 kilos, (a state) (Not *I'm weighing 65 kilos. *)There are five groups of stative verbs referring to: a feelings (like, love, etc.);
b thinking/believing (think, understand, etc.) с wants (want, prefer, etc.)
d perception (hear, see, etc. [> 11.2B]) e being/having/owning (appear, seem, belong, etc. [> 10.4])Write: Tick the sentences that are right. Cross out the verbs that are wrong and correct them.
1a You're never ill. I envy you. 1b You're never ill. I'm envying you.
2a I understand English well. 2b I'm understanding English well.
3a You're knowing what I mean. 3b You know what I mean.
4a Is he seeming unfriendly? 4b Does he seem unfriendly?
5a I prefer fish to meat. 5b I'm preferring fish to meat.
6a Do you see that bird over there? 6b Are you seeing John tomorrow?
7a Why is he smelling his coffee? 7b Something smells strange.
8a She's weighing herself again. 8b She weighs 75.5 kilos.9.1 D Context
Write: Put in the simple present or the present progressive tenses.
CHOMP CHAMP!
\you sit) comfortably? Good! 12 (hope) you^3 (study)
this text carefully because I i(have) news for you. The
Guinness Book of Records^5 (not include) records for eating any more. People
who^6 (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^7 (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 s(want)
to challenge him, of course!