First, let’s review what you know about progressive forms of a verb (the “ing” form). This form indicates that something is happening, was happening at some point in the past, or will be happening sometime in the future.
The present progressive is the "ing" form of the verb with the present form of "be".
I am taking a bath. Activity in progress.
Present perfect progressive is formed by combining "have" with "been" and the "ing" form of the verb.
I have been watching too much television. Activity that began in the past, but is still happening in the present, and may continue into the future.
The past progressive is formed with the past form of "be" and the "ing" form of the verb.
I was driving when the car broke down. Past action that was happening when another action occurred, or that took place over a period of time, or that was interrupted by another action.
The past perfect progressive is formed by the past form of "have" with "been" and the "ing" form of the verb.
Felicity had been swimming when the rain began. Activity in the past, frequently with the simple past.
The future progressive is formed with "will" + "be" + the "ing" form of the verb.
Whitney will be reading to us again tonight. Continuing activity, something that will be happening at some point in the future.
Future perfect progressive is formed with "will or shall' + been + the "ing" form of the verb.
In 2008, Aunt Tilly's English School will have been helping people for six years. A future, ongoing activity that will occur before some specified future time.
Did you see the pattern? Each of these progressive (sometimes called “continuous”) tenses show some kind of ACTIVITY or something that HAPPENS. Taking, watching, driving, swimming, reading, helping are all actions. They are dynamic or action verbs. You were eating yesterday, you are eating today, and you will be eating tomorrow. The action of “eating” can be described in the past, present and future. Dynamic verbs are the only verbs that can be shown in the progressive tenses because they are the only verbs that are capable of change—activities or events which start and finish. They describe actions we do or things that happen. Below are some common dynamic verbs
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Verbs showing an activity Progressive tenses---present, past, future: I am shaving. It was raining. She will be dancing. |
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abandon ask beg borrow call chew cook cut dance drink eat go help laugh |
learn listen look at play rain read rinse say sew shave sing sleep slice speak |
swallow swim talk throw toss travel type wash watch whisper wink work write
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Verbs showing a process Progressive tenses---present, past, future: The apples are rotting. The car is speeding up. He will be changing. |
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absorb change deteriorate decay dissolve |
grow mature melt ripen rot |
shrink slow down speed up sprout widen |
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Verbs showing a physical condition Progressive tenses---present, past, future: They are aching. She was hurting. He will be feeling sore. |
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ache blister |
feel hurt |
itch throb |
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Verbs showing the beginning of an action or event. Progressive tenses---present, past, future: Tim is falling. Dad is leaving. Pat will be arriving. This is a bit different in meaning than the simple past, present, & future tenses: Tim falls. Dad left. Pat will arrive. (The simple tenses show an action that is, was, or is going to happen. The progressive tenses show the beginning of an action in the present, past or future.) |
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arrive die |
fall land |
leave lose |
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Verbs showing actions of short duration and possible repetition Progressive tenses---present, past, future: Joe is hitting Bob. Moe was jumping. The horse will be kicking. These suggest a short-term action and/or repeated action. Not the same as the simple past, present, & future tenses: Joe hit Bob. Moe jumped. The horse will kick. These suggest a one-time action. |
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hit jump kick |
knock leap nod |
poke punch tap |
The other type of English verb is the "stative" verb. Stative verbs are those that show a state of being, a mental state, or an unchanging relationship. Statives are different from dynamic verbs in both structure and usage. Stative verbs DO NOT use the progressive (ing) form of the verb. This is because stative verbs are inert—static. Look at these subject complements: “Jesse is unpleasant tonight.” Jesse is short.” “Unpleasant is a condition that can change; short is an inert or static condition. “Jesse is being unpleasant tonight.” BUT NOT “Jesse is being short.” Jesse isn’t choosing to be short, he just is. He can change being unpleasant however. “Unpleasant” is a dynamic adjective, and “short” is a stative adjective. It is the same with dynamic and stative verbs. Since the stative is inert, or unchangeable, we cannot normally use the progressive tenses with it.
We don’t say: Sheila is being pretty. I am loving apple pie. Herbert is owning a red car.
We say: Sheila is pretty. I love apple pie. Herbert owns a red car.
“Pretty” is a stative adjective—one is either pretty or not—unchanging. “Love” and “own” are stative verbs—one loves or owns, or one doesn’t--unchanging. It is just wrong to use the progressive form of a verb with them. What form of tense you use depends on the type of verb you use.
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Dynamic Verb |
Stative Verb |
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Maria is eating pie. |
Maria likes pie. |
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Maria is DOING something. |
The flavor of the pie is pleasing to Maria—she isn’t doing any action. |
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Use the present progressive tense |
Use the simple present tense. |
Below are some common stative verbs:
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Verbs showing perception, cognition, the senses, also emotion and state of being Simple tenses: I believe. I believed. I will believe. |
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abhor agree amaze appear assume appreciate astonish be* believe care concern consider desire despise detest dislike |
doubt enjoy envy exist expect fear feel forget forgive guess hate hear hope imagine impress intend know |
like loathe love mean mind (meaning “to care about”) miss need perceive please prefer presuppose realize recall recognize regard |
remember satisfy see seem smell sound suppose surprise suspect taste think (meaning “to have an opinion”) understand want wish worry |
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Verbs showing possession or relationships and measurements Simple tenses: He deserves a prize. He deserved a prize. He will deserve a prize. |
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belong (to) consist (of) contain cost depend (on)* |
deserve equal fit have meaning “own”) include |
involve lack matter mean need owe |
own possess require resemble weigh |
*NOTE: “To be” is usually a stative verb, but “be” IS sometimes used in the progressive when it is describing an action. Charles was being quite disrespectful to his teacher. (He was saying or doing rude things.) Help! I am being chased by a dog. (I am running from something.)
When are stative verbs not stative???
Some verbs which are generally stative may be used in the progressive form if they are:
1. Referring to the action in progress at that moment--Aunt Tilly is assuming her check will arrive today. (At this moment, she is thinking that her check will arrive.) The star will be appearing in concert next week. (At that future time, the star is performing before an audience.)
2. Indicating a development towards the static state--I am feeling unhappy about it. (It makes me sad to think about it.)
3. Giving a notion of temporariness or limited duration to the state—Jack is pleasing his boss until bonus time. (Jack won’t please the boss forever, only until the bonus arrives.)
4. Showing a different meaning. Here are some examples:
| Verb |
Stative involuntary state of being or condition |
Dynamic a conscious or deliberate action |
| hear | I hear the dog. (what your ears pick up) |
I am listening to the dog. (Informal= I am hearing the dog.) |
| see | He sees her. (what your eyes register) | He is seeing her (dating/meeting/visiting). |
| sound |
The music sounds lovely. (how your ear and brain interpret what you hear) |
The music is sounding louder than last night. (an action in progress--See #1 above) |
| taste | My coffee tastes bitter. (sensations in your mouth) | She was tasting the dessert. (She was sampling it.) |
| *feel |
She feels happy. ( an opinion) I can feel a draft in the house. (sensation on the skin) She feels that war is wrong. (thinks) |
Carla was feeling the material. (She was touching it). I am feeling sick. (used with health) |
| smell | I can smell something delicious! (what your nose registers) | The cat is smelling the dog suspiciously. (a deliberate act of sniffing) |
| cost | New CD’s cost too much. (the price charged) | Stores are charging more for new CD’s now. (The setting of the cost has risen.) |
| measure | He measures 40 inches around his waist. (the dimensions of something) | Sue is measuring for new curtains. (determining the dimensions) |
| weigh | The baby weighs 10 pounds, 10 ounces. (the weight—a state of being) |
Ken was weighing his options. (considering) The grocer is weighing oranges. (determining the pounds) |
| reach | Trees can reach a height of 60 feet or more. (describing a dimension) | Mother was reaching for a spoon. (a deliberate action) |
| think | I think I have a cold. (opinion) |
Are you thinking logically? (a voluntary mental process) We are thinking about retiring. (considering future plans) |
| expect | I expect you will be leaving soon. (supposing) | George and Laura are expecting. (they are going to have a baby) |
| enjoy | Hans enjoys skiing. (likes very much) | He was enjoying himself at the party. (He was having a good time—ongoing activity) |
| impress | The Grand Canyon impresses most people. (makes a strong impact on their senses) | John is impressing Lou with his magic tricks (consciously doing an activity for a favorable affect) |
| surprise | The cold weather surprised our Brazilian guest. (involuntary state of being) | He will be surprising her with a diamond tonight. (a purposeful, planned action) |
| have/has | Bert has a Great Dane. (he possesses it) | He’s having a problem training the dog. (activity in progress) |
| *look | You look ill. (You = ill) | I am looking at you. (definite action) |
| acts | Jack acts strange sometimes. (Jack = strange) | He will be acting in a play next month. (the action of performing) |
| become | Doug becomes sleepy after dinner. (Doug=sleepy) | You are becoming more like your mother every day! (on-going process) |
*Some stative verbs of perception and cognition (think, feel, believe, love, see, forgive, hear, remember, smell, wish, look, and like for example) are now being used in the progressive tense in common speech. It isn’t unusual to hear "I am not hearing this!” “I am wishing I had gone to the party.” “I am feeling pleased with my job.” “I am loving this movie!” This usage is probably to stress the immediacy of action (“Do you like the film? I am LOVING this movie!”) or in the process of enjoying/hating/understanding/etc. something (“I want a new luxury car. I am not hearing this!”).
When people use stative verbs this way, their intent is understandable (probably), but it is not correct English, and it should never be used in formal or academic situations.