 are conditions or situations that exist

 do not involve actions

 can’t be progressive

categories verbs examples

Mental activity and know, think, understand,
attitudes recognize, remember, want, He understands the problem (correct)
need, appreciate, feel (=think), He is understanding the problem (wrong!)
appear (=seem), concern
Feelings and love, like, hate, astonish,
emotions surprise, impress, please, I hate olives (correct)
amaze, adore, detest, enjoy, I’m hating olives (wrong!)
forgive, loathe
Senses hear, see, sound, taste, feel,
smell Your idea sounds nice (correct)
Your idea is sounding nice (wrong!)
Opinion agree, believe, expect( =
think), see(=understand), I prefer tea to coffee (correct)
suppose, mean, prefer, seem, I’m preferring tea to coffee (wrong!)
keep(=continue)
Possession have(= possess), belong, He has a sister (correct)
possess, own He is having a sister (wrong!)
Measures measure, reach, cost, weight, It costs 20$ (correct)
contain It is costing 20$ (wrong!)

Some stative verbs have progressive forms but there is a difference in meaning

State
He thinks he’s really clever (=he believes)
What does it taste like? (what is it flavor)
He has two houses (he owns, possesses)
The silk shirt feels soft ( it has a soft texture)
Do you see what I mean? (do you understand)
Your perfume smells of apples (it has the smell)
I love/enjoy good films (I like in general)
It looks as if it’s going to rain (it appears)
He appears to be working ( he seems to be)
The box is heavy. It weights a lot (its weight is)
Bobby is naughty (his character is bad)
These shoes fit me perfectly (they are the right size)
action
I’m thinking about his offer (I’m considering)
He is tasting the food to see if it’s good (he is
tasting the flavor)
He’s having lunch (he is eating)
Ann is feeling the cat’s fur (she is touching it)
I’m seeing Paula tonight ( I’m meeting her)
She is smelling the roses (she is trying the smell
of)
I’m loving/enjoying (I like specifically)
He is looking at the painting (he is viewing it)
The opera singer is appearing on stage tonight
(he will make an appearance)
He is weighting the potatoes on the scales (he is
finding out the weight of)
Suzy is being very naughty now (she is
misbehaving)
We are fitting a new carpet in the hall (laying)
Task 1. Use some of the words in the box to complete the sentences. More than one answer may be possible

believe belong contain (содержать) forget hate like

love matter (иметь значение) need own prefer realize
(осознать ) remember suppose (полагать) understand want
1. This book ____________ to me
2. I ____________ you are right
3. ____________ you ____________ this music?
4. His father ____________ a chain of hotels
5. She says she ____________ to see Fred
6. I ____________ a drink of water
7. I ____________ you don’t ____________ me
8. I ____________ how old she is
9. She ____________ me and I ____________ her
10. Money doesn’t ____________ to me
11. Beer? I ____________ water
12. I ____________ his face, but not his name
13. That bottle ____________ petrol

Task 2. Choose the correct form

a. I (have) a great time I’m having is possible too?

b. She (have) plenty of money just now Indicates possession,
but “right now”? is having?
c. He (appears / is appearing) at the Fortune Theatre next week
d. She (appears / is appearing) to have a problem
e. Why you (look / are looking) at me like that?
f. It (looks / is looking) as if it’s going to rain
g. I (see / am seeing) what they are trying to say
h. I (see / ‘m seeing) the manager this afternoon
i. I (think / am thinking) you are right
j. What (are you thinking / do you think) about?
k. I (‘m feeling / feel) very tired today
l. I (feel / am feeling) she is making a mistake

Task 3. Put the words into the correct form, present continuous or present simple

1. Are you hungry? ________ something to eat? (want)

2. Jill is interested in politics but she ________ to a political party. (not/belong)
3. Don’t put the dictionary away! I________ it. (use)
4. Don’t put the dictionary away! I ________ it. (need)
5. Who is that man? What ________? (he/want)
6. Who is that man? Why ________ at us? (he/look)
7. George says he’s 80 years old but nobody ________ him. (believe)
8. She told me her name but I ________ it now. (not /remember)
9. I _________ of selling my car (sell). Would you be interested in buying it?
10. I ________ you should sell your car (think) You ________ it very often (not/use)
11. I used to drink a lot of coffee but these days I ________ tea (prefer)
12. Air ________ mainly of nitrogen and oxygen (consist)

Task 1. Use some of the words in the box to complete the sentences. More than one answer may be possible
 believe belong contain (содержать) forget hate like
love matter (иметь значение) need own prefer realize
(осознать ) remember suppose (полагать) understand want
14. This book belongs to me
15. I believe / realize you are right
16. Remember you hate this music?
17. His father owns a chain of hotels
18. She says she wants to see Fred
19. I need a drink of water
20. I understand you don’t hate me
21. I suppose how old she is
22. She likes me and I love her
23. Money doesn’t matter to me
24. Beer? I prefer water
25. I forget / forgot his face, but not his name
26. That bottle contains petrol

Task 2. Choose the correct form

m. I (have) a great time I’m having is possible too? Yes

n. She (have) plenty of money just now Indicates possession,
but “right now”? is having? No. Has is the only option in
this case.
o. He (appear / is appearing) at the Fortune Theatre next week
p. She (appears) to have a problem
q. Why you (look / are looking) at me like that?
r. It (looks) as if it’s going to rain
s. I (see) what they are trying to say
t. I (see / ‘m seeing) the manager this afternoon
u. I (think) you are right
v. What (are you thinking) about?
w. I (‘m feeling) very tired today
x. I (feel) she is making a mistake

Task 3. Put the words into the correct form, present continuous or present simple

13. Are you hungry? Do you Want something to eat? (want)

14. Jill is interested in politics but she doesn’t belong to a political party. (not/belong)
15. Don’t put the dictionary away! I’m using it. (use)
16. Don’t put the dictionary away! I need it. (need)
17. Who is that man? What does he want? (he/want)
18. Who is that man? Why is he looking at us? (he/look)
19. George says he’s 80 years old but nobody believes him. (believe)
20. She told me her name but I don’t remember it now. (not /remember)
21. I thinking of selling my car (sell). Would you be interested in buying it?
22. I think you should sell your car (think) You don’t use it very often (not/use)
23. I used to drink a lot of coffee but these days I / prefer? tea (prefer)
24. Air consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen (consist)