Stative (state) verbs in the continuous form

Some of the verbs used in the simple form can be used in the continuous form as well. That's typically when they have an active meaning  or emphasize change.

Often these sentences may have a bit different meaning:

Tense
Verb Example Meaning
Simple
 to think I think you should see a doctor opinion
Continuous
 to be thinking I'm thinking of changing my flat trying to reach a decision
Simple
 to love I love going to the cinema feeling
Continuous
 to be loving I'm loving it (Mc Donald's slogan) emphasis
Simple
 to smell I smell something burning sense
Continuous
 to be smelling My baby was smelling a flower activity
Simple
 to have He's really rich - he has 3 cars possession
Continuous
 to be having When you called me, I was having a nice bath activity
Simple
 to see I can see you have a big garden sense
Continuous to be seeing I'm seeing him later appointment
Simple to taste I could taste a lot of sugar in the wine sense
Continuous to be tasting
He was tasting the cake and said it was OK
 activity

 

Keep in mind there is a group of verbs that can be used in both the continuous and simple forms with no difference. These are: e.g. hurt, feel:

  • How is Mary feeling after the accident?
  • How does she feel after the accident?

 

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