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Eladio Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Some verbs and Continuous Tenses

0 Hi everyone! 02br
00The book “English Grammar In Use. Intermediate Students, Cambridge University Press” tells us: 02br
00The following verbs are not NORMALLY used in Continues Tenses (using the “ing” form of the verb), although you can form the gerund with them: 02br
00To like, to love, to hate, to want, to need, to prefer, to know, to realize, to suppose, to suggest, to mean, to understand, to believe, to remember, to belong to, to contain, to consist, to depend, to seem, to promise, to apologize, to advise, to insist, to agree, to refuse. And the verbs of perception: to see, to hear, to smell, to taste, to feel. 02br
02br
00How do I should consider the word “normally” used in capitals by the book? Please, consider these situations written in Continuous (using the “ing” form of the verb): 02br
001.- Cannot I say: 02br
00a.- “Are you suggesting that my friend Benny is a liar” 02br
00b.- “You’re insisting too much on that!” 02br
00c.- “Are they refusing my offer?” 02br
00d.- “I’m preferring now white T-shirts more than black ones” 02br
00e.- “Are you advising me?” 02br
00f.- “Are you seeing me?”; “Are you hearing they?” (instead of Can you see me?; Can you hear me?) 02br
00g.- “I’m feeling that I cannot learn English without English Forums” 02br
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002.- I have first met Sarah two months ago. But day by day, I realize I don’t like Sarah for several reasons. Cannot I say “You know what Sarah; I’m knowing you day by day”? (As a ironic form of talking) (Maybe there is in English another form to say the same ironic sentence –and I would like to know it: a friend says that “I can know you day by day”-, but you please concentrate in my question about the use of “knowing”. If that use is not NORMAL but acceptable, say in literature). Or: “I’m hating you more and more every day” 02br
00If the point is: They CANNOT be used in Continuous Tenses, then why the word NORMALLY and not to say: “Don’t use the following verbs in Continuous Tenses” 02br
02br
003.- I have first met Sarah two months ago. But day by day, I realize I’m falling in love with her. Cannot I say “You know what Sarah; I’m loving you day by day”? 02br
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00Please, help. 02br
00Eladio 02br
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Top answer

" means there is not often a need to use these forms. When used they would have some extraordinary or idiosyncratic meaning. - “I’m preferring now white T-shirts more than black ones” 01b 00No.

— CalifJim

  • " means there is not often a need to use these forms.
  • When used they would have some extraordinary or idiosyncratic meaning.
  • - “I’m preferring now white T-shirts more than black ones” 01b 00No.
  • ) 01b 00No.
  • 02b 02br 02br 002.
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6 Answers
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0 Most likely, "not normally used ..." means there is not often a need to use these forms. When used they would have some extraordinary or idiosyncratic meaning. 02br
02br
00a.- “Are you suggesting that my friend Benny is a liar?" 01b00OK02b02br
00b.- “You’re insisting too much on that!” 01b00OK (?)02b02br
00c.-
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0 Hello CJ 02br
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00I am interested in Eladio's questions and your answers,because I also have troubles in "abnormal" usages of progressive tenses. Could you help me by giving additional answers? 02br
01blockquote
00a.- “Are you suggesting that my friend Benny is a liar?" 11b10OK12b12blockquote
12br
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0 Paco, 02br
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00By and large it seems to me that you have a good instinct for these turns of phrase. I think your analysis of such structures as "These actions [suggest / *are suggesting] ..." is quite accurate. 02br
02br
00Your ideas about emotion, anger, or irritation are also quite right for the progressive forms in question. 02br
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0 Hello CJ 02br
02br
00Thank you for your compliment. How to use English progressive constructs properly is still a problem to me. I have to consult with dictionaries and grammar books every time I use them. 02br
02br
00paco 0-
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0 Thank you, CJ for your answers and Paco for his comments. My conclusions: 02br
001.- The use of constinuous/progressive tenses is controversial, at least with the verbs I listed. 02br
002.- I have to study much more about this. This is "still a problem to me". 02br
00Could anyone else help with comments and examples? PLEASE!! 02br
00Eladio 0-
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0 Hi! 02br
00Please, see what I have found in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English by the word “get”: 02br
00“17) get to see/know/understand etc.: to gradually begin to see, know, understand etc. Example: I'm sure the kids will soon get to like each other” 02br
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00This is, from my point of view, the solution to my questions about those ve
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