State verbs stay simple

Learning outcome

You can keep a state verb in the simple present, and you can allow the continuous only when the same verb names an action.

Concepts and reasons

Some verbs name a state, not an action you can watch. The usual exam list is know, believe, like, love, want, own, belong, and have when have means possession. A state takes the simple present. I know the answer. She likes milk. This book belongs to me. I have a car. The continuous is wrong for that state. I am knowing, she is liking, and I am having a car are the forms the exam rejects. The same spelling can name an action. I am having lunch means I am eating lunch. Have there is an action, so the continuous is right. See the meaning before you reject the continuous.

Worked examples

1. I know the answer. know is a state. I am knowing the answer is wrong.
2. This house belongs to my uncle. belongs, not is belonging.
3. We are having lunch. Here have means eat, an action in progress, so the continuous is right. We have a lunch box would be possession, and that would be simple present.

Common traps

Now does not force the continuous onto a state. I know the answer now is still know, not am knowing. Do not ban every use of having. Having lunch, having a bath, and having a meeting are actions. Like and love as feelings stay simple. I like this song. I am liking this song is the form to reject in this exam.

Practice questions

1. She ___ the answer.
2. This pen ___ to Ravi.
3. They ___ lunch at the moment.

Answers and explanations

1. knows. know is a state. is knowing is rejected.
2. belongs. Possession or ownership stays simple present.
3. are having. at the moment plus lunch means the action of eating, so the continuous is right.

Analogy

A state is a label on a box: known, owned, liked. You do not watch a label happen. An action is something you can walk in on, such as lunch. Only the second one takes the continuous.

Quick reference

• States: know, believe, like, love, want, own, belong.
• have as possession: I have a car. Not I am having a car.
• have as an action: I am having lunch. I am having a bath.
• now does not turn a state into a continuous.