Some verbs used in the simple form can also be used in the continuous form. That's typically when they have an active meaning or emphasize change. Very often these sentences have a completely different meaning:
Some verbs used in the simple form can also be used in the continuous form. That's typically when they have an active meaning or emphasize change. Very often these sentences have a completely different meaning:
| Verb Form | Verb | Example | Meaning |
Simple | to think | I think you should see a doctor | opinion |
Continuous | to be thinking | I'm thinking of changing my flat | trying to reach a decision |
Simple | to love | I love going to the cinema | feeling |
Continuous | to be loving | You look great in this hat. I'm loving it, man! | emphasis or gradual process |
Simple | to smell | I smell something burning | sense |
Continuous | to be smelling | My baby was smelling a flower | activity |
Simple | to have | He's really rich — he has 3 cars | possession |
Continuous | to be having | When you called me, I was having a bath | activity |
Simple | to see | I can see you have a big garden | sense |
| Continuous | to be seeing | I'm seeing him later | appointment |
| Simple | to taste | I could taste a lot of sugar in the wine | sense |
| Continuous | to be tasting | He was tasting the cake and said it was OK | activity |
Keep in mind there is a group of verbs that can be used in both the continuous and simple forms with no difference. These are, for example, the verbs "to hurt" and "to feel":
- How is Mary feeling after the accident?
- How does she feel after the accident?
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