Verbs Not Used in the Continuous Form | Class 9 Grammar Worksheets

Some English verbs are not normally used in the continuous form. Most of them refer to states rather than actions.
Some of them refer to thoughts and emotions (think, believe, know). Some others refer to the use of the senses (smell, taste)

Common non-continuous verbs

Verbs referring to mental and emotional states

Believe, doubt, feel, imagine, know, dislike, love, hate, like, prefer, realise, recognise, remember, see, suppose, think, understand, want and wish

Some of these verbs actually have continuous uses, but they are not used in the continuous form with certain meanings.

Examples

When ‘see’ means ‘understand’, it does not have a continuous form.

• I see what you mean. (NOT I am seeing what you mean.)

When think and feel mean ‘have an opinion’, they are not used in the continuous form.

• I think you are making a mistake. (NOT I am thinking you are making a mistake.)
• I feel we should quit now. (NOT I am feeling we should quit now.)

Verbs referring to the use of the senses

Appear, hear, look, see, seem, smell, sound, taste

The verb ‘look’ does have a continuous form; however it is not used in its continuous form when it means seem.

Verbs referring to emotions and reactions

Agree, astonish, deny, disagree, impress, mean, please, promise, satisfy, surprise

Other verbs that are not normally used in the continuous form

Belong, concern, consist, contain, depend, deserve, fit, include, involve, lack, matter, measure, need, owe, own, possess, weigh

Exercise

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate verb form.

1. I ………………….. fine now.

a) am feeling
b) feel

c) Either could be used here

2. I ……………… you shouldn’t accept this offer.

a) feel
b) am feeling
c) Either could be used here

3. I …………………… about my school days.

a) was thinking
b) thought
c) Either could be used here

4. What ………………. of my hair colour?

a) are you thinking
b) do you think
c) Either could be used here

5. I ……………… the minister tomorrow.

a) see
b) am seeing
c) Either could be used here

6. I ………………. that you are right.

a) see
b) am seeing
c) Either could be used here

7. The fish ……………… awful.

a) smells
b) is smelling
c) Either could be used here

8. I …………………………. 52 kilograms.

a) weigh
b) am weighing
c) Either could be used here

9. The soup ………………… wonderful.
a) is tasting
b) tastes
c) Either could be used here

Answers

1. I am feeling / feel fine now.

2. I feel you shouldn’t accept this offer.

3. I was thinking / thought about my school days.

4. What do you think of my hair colour? (What is your opinion?)

5. I am seeing the minister tomorrow.

6. I see that you are right. (I understand that..)

7. The fish smells awful.

8. I weigh 52 kilograms.

9. The soup tastes wonderful.