Exercise 1
Choose the best option, A or B. If both options are possible, choose both.
a Oh, no! Last week I ………………. 50 kilos. This week it’s 56!
A weighed B was weighing
b Oonagh ………………. a letter when I called in to see her.
A wrote B was writing
c These kids ………………. too much noise.
A make B are making
d Why on earth ………………. at me like that? Is there something on my face?
A do you look B are you looking
e Billy ………………. a word his teacher said this morning.
A wasn’t understanding B didn’t understand
f Jo ………………. a house in Lucca.
A has B is having
g Anthony ………………. amazed when I told him the news.
A looked B was looking
h I ………………. this headline! ‘Man bites dog’ it sounds absurd.
A ‘m not believing B don’t believe
i We ………………. someone to love.
A are all needing B all need
j Sarah says she ………………. a bit sick this morning.
A feels B ‘s feeling
Exercise 2
Write the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
a I (know) you love me really.
b Karen (admire) Richard.
c Now I (taste) the soup to see if it’s got enough salt in it.
d (you / want) anything or are you OK?
e The party’s great, Mark. We (have) a fantastic time.
f Natasha (not / mean) to be rude to me yesterday.
g I (belong) to a bird-watching club and I love it!
h You look sad. What (you / think) about?
i The judge (feel) that the appropriate sentence is ten years in jail.
j Louise (not / understand) what you said.
Exercise 3
Complete the dialogues. Use the simple or continuous forms of the verbs. If both forms are possible, write both.
Kim: What a ……………………. (you / do)?
Nick: I b ……………………. (measure) the staircase. We c ……………………. (need) a new carpet for it.
Boy: Can you come upstairs? My head d ……………………. (hurt). I e ……………………. (think) I’m ill.
Mother: OK. I f ……………………. (come), don’t worry. g ……………………. (you / want) an aspirin?
Boss: So, Mr Jones, I h ……………………. (understand) you i ……………………. (not / like) working for us any more. Is that right?
Employee: Well, yes. I j ……………………. (feel) it’s time I changed my career.
Andy: What k ……………………. (we / have) for lunch? I’m starving.
Kate: I’ m not sure any more. This ham I bought yesterday l ……………………. (taste) a bit funny to me. Here, you try it.
Exercise 4
Choose the best option.
a This can is containing/contains paraffin so be careful with it.
b Hi, Monica. I’m admiring/admire your garden. What’s that rose called?
c I’m thinking/think we should go and live somewhere hot. How about you?
d We have/’re having a lovely time in Switzerland. I wish you were here.
e We went to a terrible restaurant. The soup was tasting/tasted like water.
f You seem/are seeming very worried. Is everything OK?
g It really isn’t mattering/doesn’t matter what I think.
h That motorbike costs/is costing too much. I’ll take the other one.
i Poor Debbie. She’s feeling/feels she made the wrong decision.
j You strongly resemble/are strongly resembling an old boyfriend of mine.
Answers
Read the note to find out why.
1
a A -> C f A -> C
b B -> A g A -> C
c A, B -> A h B -> B
d B -> D i B -> B
e B -> B j A, B -> E
2
a know -> B
b admires -> C
c ‘m tasting -> D
d Do you want -> B
e ‘re having -> D
f didn’t mean -> B
g belong -> B
h are you thinking -> D
i feels -> C
j didn’t understand -> B
3
a are you doing g Do you want
b I’m measuring h understand
c need i don’t like
d hurts/is hurting j feel
e think k are we having
f ‘m coming l tastes
4
a contains f seem
b ‘m admiring g doesn’t matter
c think h costs
d ‘re having i feels
e tasted j strongly resemble
Notes
A
Use action verbs in the simple or continuous form, depending on the situation. Follow the usual rules.
B
Use the simple form (not the continuous) with most state verbs, e.g. believe, belong, know, mean, need,
understand and want.
C
Use the simple form (not the continuous) when certain verbs, e.g. admire, feel, have, look, weigh, etc., have stative meanings.
D
Use the continuous form (not the simple) when certain verbs, e.g. have, look, taste and think, have active meanings.
E
Use the simple or continuous form with a few state verbs, e.g. feel, when there’s no difference in meaning.
Review
Action and state verbs
Verbs can express either states or actions. An action means that something happens. Some typical action verbs are decide, go, jump, listen, run, speak and work.
A state means that something remains the same. Some typical state verbs are like, love, hate, know, believe and understand.
You use action and state verbs differently in English. Here are some rules to help you decide whether to use the simple or continuous form with certain verbs.
Action verbs
– You use action verbs in the simple or continuous form, depending on the situation.
I often go to the cinema. Where are you going?
Stan read fifteen books last month.
Yesterday, I was reading a book by Duncan Forbes.
State verbs
– You use the simple form (not the continuous) with most state verbs.
This medication contains caffeine. NOT This medication is containing caffeine;
Do you need anything? NOT Are you needing anything?
– You use the simple or continuous form with a few state verbs when there is no difference in meaning. These verbs are feel, ache and hurt.
I’m feeling a bit depressed. OR I feel a bit depressed.
My head’s aching. OR My headaches.
My tummy’s hurting. OR My tummy hurts.
Note: It’s possible that you’ll hear native speakers using other state verbs in the continuous form. However, if you want to be sure you don’t make mistakes, it’s probably best to follow these rules.
State and action verbs
– Some verbs can have both a state and an action meaning. You use the simple form (not the continuous) when they have stative meanings.
Note: With verbs of perception (feel, hear, see, smell, taste) you often use can/can’t and could/couldn’t.
I could hear the waves crashing down on the beach.
I can taste curry in this dish. Can you smell burning?
