There are certain groups of verbs that are usually only used in the Present Simple. This is because their meanings are related to states or conditions that are facts and not activities. This is a feature of the use of the Present Simple. The groups of verbs are:

Verbs of thinking and opinions

believe, think, understand, suppose, expect, agree, doubt, know, realize, remember, forget, mean, imagine, deserve, prefer

Examples:

I believe you. Do you understand? I know his face, but I forget his name.

Verbs of emotions and feelings

like, love, hate, care, hope, wish, want, admit

Examples:

I like black coffee. Do you want to go out? I don´t care.

Verbs of having and being

belong, own, have, possess, contain, cost, seem, appear, need, depend on, weight, come from, resemble

Example:

This book belongs to Peter. How much does it cost? He has a lot of money.

Verbs of the senses

look, hear,taste, smell, feel

Example:

The soup tastes good.

We often use can when the subject is a person.

Can you smell something burning?

Some of these verbs can be used in the Present Continuous, but with a change of meaning. In the continuous, the verb expresses an activity, not a state. Compare:

I think you are right. (opinion) We are thinking of going to the opera. (mental activity)

I see what you mean. (understand) Are you seeing Tom tomorrow? (activity)

 

 

Použitá literatúra:

  1. New Headway, the Third edition, Intermediate, Student´s Book, Liz and John Soars, Oxford Univesity Press, 2003

  2. New Headway, the Third edition, Intermediate, Student´s Book, Liz and John Soars, Oxford University Press, 2003