Verbs NOT normally used with -ING

1. Verbs of cognition/ thinking (verbe de cognitie/ gandire):

e.g. believe (a crede), know (a sti), think (a gandi), contemplate (a contempla), imagine (a-si imagina),
mean (a insemna), remember (a-si aminti), suppose (a presupune), forget (a uita), guess (a ghici/ a crede),
understand (a intelege), realise (a-si da seama), recognise (a recunoaste), doubt (a se indoi), expect (a se
astepta), feel (= think - a crede), intend (a intentiona), see (= understand - a intelege)

I think you are right. (Cred ca ai dreptate. - atunci cand verbul THINK arata opinia cuiva sau ce crede
cineva despre ceva, el nu se foloseste cu -ing)
I don’t think she’ll come. (Nu cred ca ea va veni.)
What do you think? (Ce crezi?)
I understand what you’re saying. (Inteleg ce spui.)
I want to do it like this. I see. (Vreau sa faca asta asa. Inteleg.)
I realise it’s a bit too much. (Imi dau seama ca e umpic prea mult.)
 

I am thinking about moving abroad. (Ma gandesc sa ma mut in strainatate.) (Atunci cand verbul THINK
exprima ideea de cantarire a situatiei, el se poate folosi cu -ing)
(I am considering the idea seriously) (Cantaresc situatia serios.)
What are you thinking about? (La ce te gandesti?)
I have been considering taking up riding. (Am luat in considerare sa ma apuc de calarit.)
You are imagining things, this house is not haunted. (Iti imaginezi lucruri, casa asta nu este bantuita.)
 

2. Verbs of perception (verbe de perceptie):

    

e.g. see (a vedea), hear (a auzi), smell (a mirosi), taste (a gusta), feel (a simti), seem (a parea), appear (a
parea), notice (a observa), look (= seem - a parea)

I see them coming. (I have the ability) (Ii vad venind.)

She’s seeing the doctor tomorrow. (she has an appointment) (Ea are programare la doctor maine.)
Mary is seeing a new guy at present. (she is going out with him) (Mary se vede cu un tip nou in prezent.)
The tourists are seeing the castle. (they are visiting it) (Turistii viziteaza castelul.)
You’re seeing things, there is no ghost here. (you have the impression you see something) (Ai vedenii, nu
este nici o fantoma aici.)
She is seeing him off to the station. (she is accompanying him there) (Ea il conduce pe el la gara.)
Daca verbul SEE exprima perceptie senzoriala atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca este folosit cu alte
sensuri decat cel de perceptie, atunci se poate folosi cu -ing)
 
 I hear you loud and clear, you don’t have to shout. (I have the ability) (Te aud clar si bine, nu trebuie sa
tipi.)
The judge is hearing the witness. (Judecatorul audiaza martorul.)
You are hearing things. No noise is coming from that empty room. (Ti se pare ca auzi lucruri. Nici un
zgomot nu vine dinspre camera aceea goala.)
Daca verbul HEAR exprima perceptie senzoriala atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca este folosit cu
alte sensuri decat cel de perceptie, atunci se poate folosi cu -ing)
 

These roses smell very nice. (they have a nice smell) (Trandafirii miros foarte frumos.)
The room smells of roses. (involuntary action) (Camera miroase a trandafiri.)
Why are you smelling the soup? Has it gone off? (why are you checking the smell/ intentional action)
(De ce mirosi supa? S-a stricat?)
Daca verbul SMELL exprima o actiune involuntara de a mirosi (ca atunci cand intri undeva si mirosul
din acel loc este simtit involuntar) sau o calitate permanenta atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca este
folosit pentru a exprima o actiune voita, pe care o fac in mod voluntar, intentionat, atunci se poate folosi
cu -ing)
 

This stew tastes delicious. (its flavour is good) (Aceasta tocana are gust delicios.)
I taste cream in this cake. (there is cream in this/ involuntary action) (Pot sa simt gustul de smantana din
aceasta prajitura.)
My mother is tasting the food for salt. (deliberate/ intentional action) (Mama mea gusta supa de sare. ->
ca sa vada daca este sarata.)
Daca verbul TASTE exprima o actiune involuntara de a gusta (ca atunci cand mananci ceva si simti
gustul ingredientelor) sau o calitate permanenta atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca este folosit
pentru a exprima o actiune voita, pe care o fac in mod voluntar, intentionat, atunci se poate folosi cu
-ing)
 

This dress feels like velvet. (it has the texture of velvet/ involuntary action) (Rochia aceasta se simte de
parca este catifea.)
He is feeling her arm to see if it’s broken. (he’s touching the arm intentionally) (El pipaie bratul ei ca sa
vada daca este rupt.)
Daca verbul FEEL exprima o actiune involuntara de a simti (ca atunci cand atingi ceva cu pielea si simti
textura) sau o calitate permanenta atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca este folosit pentru a exprima o
actiune voita, pe care o fac in mod voluntar, intentionat, atunci se poate folosi cu -ing)
 
It appears the villa is empty. (it looks/ seems like it) (Se pare ca vila este goala.)
The actors are appearing at the Palladium. (they are performing) (Actorii joaca pe scena la Teatrul
Palladium.)
Daca verbul APPEAR are sensul de a se parea atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca are sensul de a
aparea pe scena, a juca pe scena atunci se poate folosi cu -ing)
 

I’m noticing that she doesn’t say much.

I notice that she doesn’t say much. (Observ ca ea nu spune multe. -> verbul NOTICE nu se poate folosi
niciodata cu -ing)
 
 It looks as if it’s going to snow. (it appears) (Se pare ca o sa ninga.) (Cand verbul LOOK are sensul de a
se parea atunci el nu se poate folosi cu -ing)
They are looking at the painting. (they’re examining it) (Ei se uita la tablou.) (Cand verbul LOOK are
sensul de a se uita atunci el se poate folosi cu -ing)
 

3. Verbs of feeling or wanting (verbe care arata sentimente si dorinte):

    

e.g. adore (a adora), desire (a dori), despise (a dispretui), detest (a detesta), dislike (a displacea), envy (a
invidia), hate (a uri), like (a placea), love (a iubi), loathe (a dispretui), need (a avea nevoie), pity (a-i fi
mila), prefer (a prefera), regret (a regreta), trust (a avea incredere), want (a vrea), wish (a dori)

I love going to McDonalds. (in general) (Iubesc sa merg la McDonalds.)

I am loving this food from McDonalds. (in particular) (Imi place foarte mult aceasa mancare de la
McDonalds.)
Daca verbul LOVE arata ce iubesc in general atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca arata ceva ce
iubesc in particular/ sau iubesc extreme de mult atunci se foloseste cu -ing)
 

Do you like her new dress? (do you find it beautiful?) (Iti place noua ei rochie?)
 

4. Verbs of having (possessing) and being (existing)(verbe care exprima

    

posesia si existenta):
e.g. belong to (a apartine cuiva), have (a avea), own (a poseda), include (a include), involve (a implica), lack
(a-i lipsi ceva), possess (a poseda), contain (a contine), be (a fi), consist of (a consta din), exist (a exista)

He has a beautiful house.(he possesses it) (El are o casa frumoasa.)

He is having fun with his friends. (he is enjoying himself) (El se distreaza cu prietenii lui.)
He is having a walk in the park. (he is taking a walk) (El se plimba prin parc.)
They are having dinner. (they are eating) (Ei iau cina.)
She is having a shower now. (she is showering) (Ea face dus acum.)
They are having a nice time. (they are enjoying themselves) (Ei se distreaza.)
Daca verbul HAVE arata posesia atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca arata altceva decat posesie
atunci se foloseste cu -ing)
 

Mary is polite. (it is her character to be polite all the time) (Mary este politicoasa. - in general)
Mary is being rude today. (she is behaving rudely which is temporary, it’s not in her character) (Mary
este nepoliticoasa/ obraznica azi. in particular, doar azi)
Daca verbul BE arata o situatie permanenta atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca arata un
comportament temporar atunci se foloseste cu -ing)
 

5. Other verbs (alte verbe):

    
e.g. weigh (a cantari), cost (a costa), resemble (a semana cu cineva), mean (a insemna), expect (a se astepta)

She weighs 70 kilos. (she has that weight/ involuntary action) (Ea cantareste 70 de kilograme.)
I am weighing the ingredients for the cake. (I am doing the action of weighing deliberately) (Cantaresc
ingredientele pentru prajitura.)
Daca verbul WEIGH arata o situatie permanenta atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca arata o actiune
voluntara, intentionata atunci se foloseste cu -ing)
!!! ATENTIE: nu confundati verbul care se scrie WEIGH = a cantari cu substantivul care se scrie
WEIGHT = greutate
 

How much does it cost? It costs 30 dollars. (Cat costa? Costa 30 de dolari.)
Petrol is costing more and more these days. (changing action) (Benzina costa din ce in ce mai mult in
ziua de azi.)
Verbul COST se foloseste fara -ing cand arata cat costa ceva, dar se poate folosi cu -ing atunci cand
arata o actiune in schimbare cu expresia "din ce in ce mai")
 

You resemble your parents. (Tu semeni cu parintii tai.)

You are resembling your mother more and more. (changing action) (Tu semeni cu mama ta din ce in ce
mai mult.)
Verbul RESEMBLE se foloseste fara -ing cand arata ca cineva seamana cu altcineva, dar se poate
folosi cu -ing atunci cand arata o actiune in schimbare cu expresia "din ce in ce mai")
 

What do you mean by that? (what does it suppose) (Ce vrei sa spui cu asta?)
You’re always meaning to call us, but you never do it. (you intend to do it) (Intotdeauna intentionezi sa
ne suni, dar nu o faci niciodata.)
Daca verbul MEAN are sensul de a insemna atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca are sensul de a
intentiona atunci se poate folosi cu -ing)
 

I expect she is happy with him. (I suppose) (Presupun ca ea este fericita cu el.)
She is expecting (a baby). (she is pregnant) (Ea asteapta (un copil). - > este insarcinata)
Daca verbul EXPECT are sensul de a presupune atunci nu se foloseste cu -ing, dar daca are sensul de a
astepta un copil/ a fi insarcinata atunci se poate folosi cu -ing)