Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

Verbs rarely used in the present progressive 

340e

Some verbs in English are only rarely used in the present progressive. These

include:

● verbs which describe mental states and processes such as believe, know, think,

understand

(

Û

339e above

)

● verbs which describe responses of the senses such as smell, taste

● verbs expressing emotional responses such as admire, adore, detest, hate, like,

respect

● verbs which describe an ongoing process such as have to, need, want

● speech act verbs such as appreciate, deny, promise, swear (

Û

339f above

)

● verbs describing permanent qualities or characteristics such as consist, contain,

hold

, last, take

The + sign indicates an interrupted turn which continues at the next + sign

[in the kitchen, cooking]

A: This consists of walnuts, garlic butter+

B: It smells nice. 

A: +and that’s about it really.

We 

need rain. The garden is so dry.

I 

promise I’ll be there on time next time.

[to a waiter]

Er, 

does this dish contain meat?

(Is this dish containing meat?)

However, when used to describe a current process at the moment of speaking, or

to give extra emphasis to the ongoing nature of the event, these verbs may occur in

the present progressive:

What 

are you thinking? 

(What thoughts are passing through your mind at this moment?; compare

‘What do you think?’, which usually means ‘What is your opinion?’)

I

’m understanding things better now, since I started going to the lectures.

(emphasises ‘understanding’ as a developing process; compare ‘I understand’,

which treats understanding as an achieved state)

[whilst preparing and tasting food]

I

’m tasting something very bitter on my tongue at the moment.

(there is a kind of tentativeness here; compare ‘it tastes bitter’)

The job for life has become a fantasy. Most people 

are having to take more

responsibility for their own careers and for what they do.

The whole match is being played at too slow a pace. It

’s needing a goal.

Can’t you hear what I’m saying? I 

am promising to marry you.