Present Continuous and Present Simple 2
Stative Verbs, Think / Being — Complete Guide
Présent Continu et Présent Simple 2
Verbes statifs, Think / Being — Guide Complet
Master stative verbs that are never used in continuous forms, the special cases of think, see, look, feel, and the difference between is and is being
Maîtrisez les verbes statifs qui ne s'utilisent pas au continu, les cas spéciaux de think, see, look, feel, et la différence entre is et is being
In Unit 3 we compared the present continuous and present simple for actions, habits, and temporary vs permanent situations. In this unit we focus on a different problem: some verbs are almost never used in continuous forms — not because the action isn't in progress, but because they describe states (feelings, thoughts, perceptions, possession) rather than actions. We also look at special cases with think, the perception verbs, and the important is/are being structure.
Dans l'unité 3, nous avons comparé le présent continu et le présent simple pour les actions, habitudes et situations temporaires vs permanentes. Dans cette unité, nous nous concentrons sur un autre problème : certains verbes ne s'utilisent presque jamais au continu — non pas parce que l'action n'est pas en cours, mais parce qu'ils décrivent des états (sentiments, pensées, perceptions, possession). Nous étudions aussi les cas spéciaux avec think, les verbes de perception et la structure is/are being.
Stative Verbs — Never (or Rarely) Used in the Continuous
Verbes statifs — Jamais (ou rarement) au continu
We use continuous forms (I'm waiting, it's raining) for actions that have started but not finished. However, some verbs describe states — not actions — and are not normally used in the continuous.
On utilise les formes continues pour les actions qui ont commencé mais pas terminé. Cependant, certains verbes décrivent des états et ne s'utilisent pas normalement au continu.
Do you understand what I mean? (not: Are you understanding?)
Anna doesn't seem very happy right now. (not: isn't seeming)
| Category | Stative verbs — use SIMPLE not continuous | Catégorie | Verbes statifs — utiliser le SIMPLE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Likes / preferences | like, love, hate, prefer, want, need | Goûts / préférences | like, love, hate, prefer, want, need |
| Mental states | know, realise, understand, recognise, believe, suppose, remember, mean | États mentaux | know, realise, understand, recognise, believe, suppose, remember, mean |
| Other states | belong, fit, contain, consist, seem | Autres états | belong, fit, contain, consist, seem |
Think — Opinion vs Active Consideration
Think — Opinion vs Réflexion active
Think has two meanings. When it means 'believe' or 'have an opinion', it is stative — use the simple. When it means 'consider' or 'actively think about', the continuous is possible.
Think a deux sens. Quand il signifie "croire" ou "avoir une opinion", c'est un verbe statif — utilisez le simple. Quand il signifie "réfléchir" ou "considérer activement", le continu est possible.
Think = believe/opinion → Simple
Think = croire/opinion → Simple
Think = consider/reflect → Continuous OK
Think = réfléchir → Continu OK
See, Hear, Smell, Taste — and Look, Feel
See, Hear, Smell, Taste — et Look, Feel
We normally use the present simple with see / hear / smell / taste — even when describing a present state:
On utilise normalement le présent simple avec see / hear / smell / taste — même pour décrire un état présent :
The room smells. Let's open a window.
This soup doesn't taste very good.
For look and feel, both simple and continuous are possible when describing a current state:
Pour look et feel, le simple et le continu sont tous les deux possibles pour décrire un état actuel :
Am/Is/Are Being — Temporary Behaviour vs Permanent Character
Am/Is/Are Being — Comportement temporaire vs Caractère permanent
Use he's being / you're being etc. to describe how someone is behaving right now — a temporary, controllable action. Use the simple he is / she is to describe a permanent character trait.
Utilisez he's being / you're being pour décrire comment quelqu'un se comporte en ce moment — une action temporaire et contrôlable. Utilisez le simple he is / she is pour décrire un trait de caractère permanent.
He is selfish. (= he has a selfish character — permanent)
Is/are being → temporary behaviour NOW
Is/are being → comportement temporaire MAINTENANT
Is/are → permanent character
Is/are → caractère permanent
Exercise 1 — Continuous or simple? (stative verbs)
Exercice 1 — Continu ou simple ? (verbes statifs)
Put the verb into the correct form.
Mettez le verbe à la bonne forme.
Exercise 2 — Correct the underlined verb if necessary
Exercice 2 — Corrigez le verbe souligné si nécessaire
Write OK if the underlined verb is correct, or write the correct form.
Écrivez OK si le verbe souligné est correct, sinon écrivez la forme correcte.
Exercise 3 — Is/are being or is/are? Complete the sentences
Exercice 3 — Is/are being ou is/are ? Complétez les phrases
Use is/are being (temporary behaviour) or is/are (permanent character).
Utilisez is/are being (comportement temporaire) ou is/are (caractère permanent).
Exercise 4 — Mixed: choose the correct form
Exercice 4 — Mixte : choisissez la bonne forme
All four rules from this unit. Put the verb into the correct form.
Les quatre règles de cette unité. Mettez le verbe à la bonne forme.
Frequently Asked Questions — Stative Verbs
Questions fréquentes — Verbes Statifs
A stative verb describes a state (something you have, know, feel, or believe) rather than an action you perform. Because states don't have a start and end point in the same way actions do, they are normally used in the simple form, not the continuous. Common examples: know, understand, believe, want, need, like, love, hate, prefer, belong, contain, consist, seem.
Un verbe statif décrit un état (quelque chose que vous avez, savez, ressentez ou croyez) plutôt qu'une action que vous effectuez. Parce que les états n'ont pas de début et de fin de la même façon que les actions, ils s'utilisent normalement au simple, pas au continu.
Yes — but only when it means 'to consider / actively reflect on'. Examples: I'm thinking about it; She's thinking of leaving. When it means 'believe / have an opinion', always use the simple: I think you're right (not: I'm thinking you're right).
Oui — mais seulement quand il signifie "réfléchir / considérer activement". Exemples : I'm thinking about it ; She's thinking of leaving. Quand il signifie "croire / avoir une opinion", utilisez toujours le simple : I think you're right.
He is selfish = permanent character trait — he is a selfish person generally. He's being selfish = he is behaving selfishly right now — it's temporary and out of character, or at least specifically about his behaviour at this moment. The continuous with be always signals a controllable, temporary behaviour.
He is selfish = trait de caractère permanent — c'est une personne égoïste en général. He's being selfish = il se comporte de manière égoïste en ce moment — c'est temporaire. Le continu avec be signale toujours un comportement contrôlable et temporaire.
Normally no — these perception verbs describe an automatic sensory state, not an action you perform. We say Do you see that?, not Are you seeing that? However, look and feel are flexible: both You look well and You're looking well are correct when describing a current state.
Normalement non — ces verbes de perception décrivent un état sensoriel automatique, pas une action. On dit Do you see that?, pas Are you seeing that? Cependant, look et feel sont flexibles : You look well et You're looking well sont tous les deux corrects.
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