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Types of Verbs

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Types of Verbs

Before you begin the verb tense lessons, it is extremely important to understand that NOT all English verbs are the same. English verbs are divided into three groups: Normal Verbs, Non-Continuous Verbs, and Mixed Verbs.

Group I Normal Verbs

Most verbs are “Normal Verbs.” These verbs are usually physical actions which you can see somebody doing. These verbs can be used in all tenses.

Normal Verbs

to run, to walk, to eat, to fly, to go, to say, to touch, etc.

Examples:

  • I eat dinner every day.
  • I am eating dinner now.

Group II Non-Continuous Verbs

The second group, called “Non-Continuous Verbs,” is smaller. These verbs are usually things you cannot see somebody doing. These verbs are rarely used in continuous tenses. They include:

Abstract Verbs

to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist…

Possession Verbs

to possess, to own, to belong…

Emotion Verbs

to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind…

Examples:

  • He is needing help now. Not Correct
  • He needs help now. Correct
  • He is wanting a drink now. Not Correct
  • He wants a drink now. Correct

Group III Mixed Verbs

The third group, called “Mixed Verbs,” is the smallest group. These verbs have more than one meaning. In a way, each meaning is a unique verb. Some meanings behave like “Non-Continuous Verbs,” while other meanings behave like “Normal Verbs.”

Mixed Verbs

to appear, to feel, to have, to hear, to look, to see, to weigh…

List of Mixed Verbs with Examples and Definitions:

to appear:

  • Donna appears confused. Non-Continuous Verb
    Donna seems confused.
  • My favorite singer is appearing at the jazz club tonight. Normal Verb
    My favorite singer is giving a performance at the jazz club tonight.

to have:

  • I have a dollar now. Non-Continuous Verb
    I possess a dollar.
  • I am having fun now. Normal Verb
    I am experiencing fun now.

to hear:

  • She hears the music. Non-Continuous Verb
    She hears the music with her ears.
  • She is hearing voices. Normal Verb
    She  hears something others cannot hear. She is hearing voices in her mind.

to look:

  • Nancy looks tired. Non-Continuous Verb
    She seems tired.
  • Farah is looking at the pictures. Normal Verb
    She is  looking with her eyes.

to miss:

  • John misses Sally. Non-Continuous Verb
    He is sad because she is not there.
  • Debbie is missing her favorite TV program. Normal Verb
    She is not there to see her favorite program.

to see:

  • I see her. Non-Continuous Verb
    I see her with my eyes.
  • I am seeing the doctor. Normal Verb
    I am  visiting or consulting with a doctor. (Also used with dentist and lawyer.)
  • I am seeing her. Normal Verb
    I am having a relationship with her.
  • He is seeing ghosts at night. Normal Verb
    He sees something others cannot see. For example ghosts, aura, a vision of the future, etc.

to smell:

  • The coffee smells good. Non-Continuous Verb
    The coffee has a good smell.
  • I am smelling the flowers. Normal Verb
    I am sniffing the flowers to see what their smell is like.

to taste:

  • The coffee tastes good. Non-Continuous Verb
    The coffee has a good taste.
  • I am tasting the cake. Normal Verb
    I am trying the cake to see what it tastes like.

to think:

  • He thinks the test is easy. Non-Continuous Verb
    He considers the test to be easy.
  • She is thinking about the question. Normal Verb
    She is pondering the question, going over it in her mind.

to weigh:

  • The table weighs a lot. Non-Continuous Verb
    The table is heavy.
  • She is weighing herself. Normal Verb
    She is determining her weight.

Some Verbs Can Be Especially Confusing:

to be:

  • Joe is American. Non-Continuous Verb
    Joe is an American citizen.
  • Joe is being very American. Normal Verb
    Joe is behaving like a stereotypical American.
  • Joe is being very rude. Normal Verb
    Joe is behaving very rudely. Usually he is not rude.
  • Joe is being very formal. Normal Verb
    Joe is behaving very formally. Usually he is not formal.

NOTICE: Only rarely is “to be” used in a continuous form. This is most commonly done when a person is temporarily behaving badly or stereotypically. It can also be used when someone’s behavior is noticeably different.

to feel:

  • The massage feels great. Non-Continuous Verb
    The massage has a pleasing feeling.
  • I don’t feel well today. Sometimes used as Non-Continuous Verb
    I am a little sick.
    I am not feeling well today. Sometimes used as Normal Verb
    I am a little sick.

NOTICE: The second meaning of “feel” is very flexible and there is no real difference in meaning between “I don’t feel well today” and “I am not feeling well today.”

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Present Continuous Forms

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Present Continuous Forms

Positive Negative Question
  • I am speaking.
  • You are speaking.
  • We are speaking.
  • They are speaking.
  • He is speaking.
  • She is speaking.
  • It is speaking.
  • I am not speaking.
  • You are not speaking.
  • We are not speaking.
  • They are not speaking.
  • He is not speaking.
  • She is not speaking.
  • It is not speaking.
  • Am I speaking?
  • Are you speaking?
  • Are we speaking?
  • Are they speaking?
  • Is he speaking?
  • Is she speaking?
  • Is it speaking?
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Present continuous

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invata engleza singurPresent Continuous

FORM

[am/is/are + present participle]

Examples:

  • You are watching TV.
  • Are you watching TV?
  • You are not watching TV.

 

USE 1 Now

Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.

Examples:

  • You are learning English now.
  • You are not swimming now.
  • Are you sleeping?
  • I am sitting.
  • I am not standing.
  • Is he sitting or standing?
  • They are reading their books.
  • They are not watching television.
  • What are you doing?
  • Why aren’t you doing your homework?

USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, “now” can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.

Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)

  • I am studying to become a doctor.
  • I am not studying to become a dentist.
  • I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
  • I am not reading any books right now.
  • Are you working on any special projects at work?
  • Aren’t you teaching at the university now?

USE 3 Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.

Examples:

  • I am meeting some friends after work.
  • I am not going to the party tonight.
  • Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
  • Isn’t he coming with us tonight?

USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with “Always”

The Present Continuous with words such as “always” or “constantly” expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like  Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words “always” or “constantly” between “be” and “verb+ing.”

Examples:

  • She is always coming to class late.
  • He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
  • I don’t like them because they are always complaining.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Present.

Examples:

  • She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct
  • She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

  • You are still watching TV.
  • Are you still watching TV?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

  • Right now, Tom is writing the letter. Active
  • Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. Passive

More About Active / Passive Forms