Guess ?

Question

The word 'guess' is thought to be the one of the classification 'stative verb' and it is referred to many grammar textbooks in common.
So we can properly expect that 'guess' is unlikely to be with the progressive aspect.
But why are there many uses of 'guess' with continuous?

e.g. He is guessing that the reason is mechanical failure.
I am guessing the non best picture awards would reign supreme.
Amazon is guessing your religion from your gift wrap.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Because it is not really stative, I suppose.  In any case, it is common to put 'guess' into progressive aspect for immediate situations.

Cho7712 · Answer

Then I can think of 'guess' as having the subtle meaning differences depending on each context. Thank you sir.

Mister Micawber · Answer

No, the meaning of the verb does not change!

Cho7712 · Answer

um? Then it must be the context or speaker's intention that decides which aspects are employed for the word 'guess'.
Plus, How can one distinguish 'guess' and 'guess at' ?

Mister Micawber · Answer

Then it must be the context or speaker's intention that decides which aspects are employed for the word 'guess'.-- Yes
Plus, How can one distinguish 'guess' and 'guess at' ?-- I suggest that 'guess at' is more informal.

Switchbreak · Answer

In your examples, the first two actually sound pretty awkward and seem to be a misuse of the stative form of "guess." People would nearly always say "I guess the non best picture awards would reign supreme" rather than "I am guessing [etc]."

The third sentence, "Amazon is guessing your religion from your gift wrap" is a natural sounding sentence, and "guess" in this case is a dynamic verb rather than a stative one. This is because the sentence refers to the ACTION of guessing, not to the state of the idea as a guess.

Cho7712 · Answer

Thank you, both of Mr.Micawber and Switchbreak.
And according to Switchbreak, activity seems an important standard.
Then, in comparison to the fact that the verb 'know' cannot be with progessive in any context retaining its meaining of 'have information',(I hope I have no error with this statment, if possible)
learners must memorize the verb types such as which stative verbs can co-occur in progressive and which ones can not.
Or else is there any particular sub-classification as to stative verbs?

Mister Micawber · Answer

Then, in comparison to the fact that the verb 'know' cannot be with progessive in any context retaining its meaining of 'have information',(I hope I have no error with this statment, if possible)-- Yes, 'know;' is quite stolidly anti-progressive. As was 'love' before McDonald's:

learners must memorize the verb types such as which stative verbs can co-occur in progressive and which ones can not. -- It is not a yes-no situation, actually; some are more likely or more comfortable as progressive forms, that is all.

Or else is there any particular sub-classification as to stative verbs?-- I have not seen one, no.

CalifJim · Answer

cho7712The word 'guess' is thought to be the one of the classification 'stative verb'

That's surprising. I would not have said that 'guess' is stative.

I would not say that 'guess' is unlikely with the progressive aspect. I'm surprised there are grammar books which say this.

CJ

Cho7712 · Answer

Thanks for your answer, CalifJim.
It is provided in the EFL grammar textbook, not in any grammar book written by native authorities. However while googling,I also found that 'guess' is given in the categorization 'mental perception or verbs of inert perception and cognition, ' by some other sources.
So it coufuses me, though now I know that stative vebs can take progessive aspect.

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