ZaraCon.com – Inglés en Zaragoza

To be or not to be … continuous. That is the question today.

Mr Grammer Man would like to stand up and say something. Are you ready?

Main verbs can describe events or states. This distinction is important because English-speakers generally avoid using state verbs in continuous aspects.

Got that? Good, let’s break it down.

Main verbs = not auxiliary verbs, that is not be or have as an auxiliary, nor any of the modals – can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might, must and ought to.
Auxiliary verbs are NEVER continuous.

Verbs that are state verbs tend to be things that are permanent.
And they fall into several convenient groups.

To be (similar in sense to the Spanish ser)
Fred is a fool. (He was born a fool, and will die a fool.)

Possessing Things
have (a possession)
I have a beautiful big blue boat.
That horse belongs to me.
I own my house.
George owes me €10,000,000. When’s he going to pay?

Permanent Mental Events
I believe that all religions are true.
I know very little about that.
I understand that English is easy.
She remembers me! She remembers me! I feel so happy.
That reminds me. I must phone Olga today.

Emotions!
I love you, but I hate your mother. (McDonald’s can’t speak English. Ignore them.)
I detest broccoli.
I don’t like Albanian folk music very much.
I very much appreciate all that you have done.

Verbs of Perception when They Mean Perception
I saw you on the High Street yesterday.
I hear that you have a new job, Jack. Well done!
I smell burning.
BUT when these verbs mean something else they can be continuous.
I’m seeing my boss this afternoon. (I am meeting him.)
I’m hearing a lot about your friend these days. (A lot of rumours.)

And that is enough from Mr Grammar Man for one day.