John: Do you like to gorge on Pizza, Burger, French Fries.
Jack: Yeah, I am loving them.
In the above conversation, the verb ‘love’ has been used in the progressive form which is incorrect. The following article is apprising us of the verbs which can not be used in the progressive form. However, we end up using them at times.

DON’T USE THESE VERBS IN PROGRESSIVE FORM

ENGLISH VERBS THAT CANNOT BE USED IN THE CONTINUOUS OR PROGRESSIVE FORM

Verbs of Emotion: love, hate, prefer, mind, like, dislike, please, surprise, astonish, impress

Verbs of Possession: have, own, want, belong, need, possess, own, owe, include, involve

Verbs used for the Senses: see, hear, smell, seem, sound, taste, look (=seem), appear, be

Verbs of Thought: know, believe, remember, agree, disagree, recognise, think (as in to have an opinion), realise, suppose, mean, understand, concern, feel (as in to have an opinion), wish, promise, imagine, doubt, deny, satisfy, depend, matter, deserve

Verbs of Measurement: contain, consist, fit, lack, measure (as in to have length), weigh (as in to have weight)

The list of verbs above is referred to as Stative or State Verbs. These verbs cannot be used in any of the Progressive or Continuous Tenses in English. These verbs typically refer to a permanent state. So, you can say, “I like you” but not “I am liking you”.

Unfortunately for students learning English, there are always exceptions to the rule. Some of the verbs above can be Dynamic as well as Stative. These verbs have more than one meaning and can therefore sometimes be used in the Continuous or Progressive Forms.

Exceptions to the Rule (Verbs that can be both Dynamic and Stative)

‘to think’ and to ‘feel’
When the verbs to think and to feel are used to refer to a person’s opinion they cannot be used in the Progressive or Continuous Forms.

Jenny: What do you think of Public Speaking Course?

Sam: I’m thinking to join ‘Wabs Talk’

‘to see’
When the verb to see is used to mean to have a meeting or to date someone it can be used in the Progressive or Continuous Forms.

Shreya: Did you hear that John is seeing Mary?
Riya: Apparently they have been dating for 2 weeks.

‘to be’
The verb to be can only be used in the Progressive or Continuous Forms when it refers to a person’s behavior.

Example: Kin is being very secretive lately. I wonder what she is hiding.(person’s behavior)

Example: Kirsten is very hot.

‘to have’
The verb to have cannot be used in the Progressive or Continuous Forms when it means to possess.

Example: I have a car. (possess)

Example: Tanmay will be throwing his farewell party at Wabs Talk.(continuous tense)

‘to taste’
This verb can only be used in the Progressive or Continuous Forms when it is used to describe an unfinished action rather than the state of a thing.

Example: The soup tastes delicious. (state)

Example: The chef is tasting the soup. (unfinished action)

‘to look’
This verb can only be used in the Progressive or Continuous Forms when it is used to describe an unfinished action rather than the state of a thing.

Example: You look good. (state)

Example: I was looking right at it but I couldn’t see it. (Unfinished action)