4 Verbs not used in continuous tenses 1 2 Non-action verbs include: L, A:What does Tom do? B: He sings in a pop group. » verbs of thinking: know forget notice —| remember recognize understand Iknow the answer. (Not Patknowing:) Siete nce > verbs of feeling: B: He's singing with his | hate like love want — | ee | Helikes ice-cream. (Not He’ iking--) > other verbs: Action verbs, like sing, are used in simple forms (e.g. he sings) and in continuous forms (c.g. he’s singing). Most verbs (e.g. be cost fit hear } sing, teach, study, talk, listen, sit, play etc.) include mean need own are verbs of action. matter prefer smell sound But some verbs do not describe actions. Look These shoes cost £55, (Not ~arecosting-) at this: Tom has a motorbike. 4 Some verbs have two meanings: one that describes an action, and one that does not: look: He’s looking at the picture. (action) He looks (= seems) tired. (notan action) taste: John is tasting the soup. (action) The soup tastes nice. (not an action) feel: She’s feeling the material. I feel (= am) cross about the accident. have: What's she doing? She’s having lunch, 13 Pi ‘Tom likes Mary. Non-action verbs, like have (‘possess’), like, ___ Whar'swrong? I have a headache, know, are not usually used in continuous think: Please be quiet. P'm thinking. tenses: I think you're right. Practice A. Complete this text about a party. Put in the right words from the box in the right form, Present Simple (Ieat) or Present Continuous (I’m eating). Use each verb once. listen like sit talk — want drink play understand think Everybody ¢ is talking very loudly. Tom 4 — near the CD player because he? to the music. ‘Who ? the guitar?” Judy asks him. ‘It's Eric Clapton. 14___ he's fantastic, says Tom. 3 the music, but I don't ® ___ the words very well} Judy says, At the end of the song, Judy says, ‘Are you thirsty, Tom? 7 you a drink?’ ‘Yes, a glass of orange juice, please, says Tom, ‘I never * _________ beer or wine? PAGE 12B_ Putin the words in the Present Simple or the Present Continuous. Sometimes you do not need to change the verb in brackets. 0 | don't understand (not/understand) that sign over there. What does it mean __(it /mean)? 1 Paula and Jack are in the sitting-room. They (listen) to the news, and Paula _____________ (look) at a magazine as well. 2. The students __——-. (count) the books in the library today, because we ____ (not/ know) how many we have. Tim ______ (like) his new shoes; they _____ (fit) him perfectly. June: Look! ‘That woman (sit) in your chair. Barry; It ___(not/matter). I can sit over there. 5. This computer is very expensive, It _ (cost) more than £3000, but the price (include) tax. C_ Use the Present Simple or the Present Continuous. Sometimes you do not need to change the verb. 0 Alan: (You/wear/your overcoat./you/go/out?) You're wearing your overcoat. Are you going out? _ Jane: (Yes,/I/go/the shops. I/need/some more paint.) 1 Adam: (you/recognize/the woman in this photo?) Susan: (you/mean/ the woman who/look/straight at the camera?) 2. Mark: (Hello, David. Why/you/stand/here?/you/wait/for me?) David: (Yes, I/want/to speak to you.) 3. James: (Listen to the engine, /you/think/it is all right?) Fiona: (It/sound/all right, but it/smell/of oil.) D_ Complete each sentence using the words in the box. tastes istasting feels isfeeling | | has ishaving thinks isthinking | 0 Acustomer _ is feeling ___ some curtain material. 1 She's smiling because she 7 _— about her boyfriend. 2. John isvery rich. He —___ — a house, a flat, and two cars. 3. Thecook___________. the soup now. 4. This material very soft 5 Thiscake _______ delicious. 6 Sue __— breakfast at the moment. 7 Pamela_____ English is an easy language to learn. PAGE 13