Verbs that are not used in continuous tenses

There are several categories of verbs that are not used in continuous tenses:

• Verbs of sense perception to see, to hear, to notice, to observe, etc.

  I hear him typing in the next room.
  Я слышу, как он печатает в соседней комнате.

  Notes:

  • The verb to see can be used in continuous tenses in those cases where it lost the meaning of sense perception:

    • to see somebody off – провожать (при отъезде);

    • to see somebody home, to the office, etc. - увидимся дома, в офисе и т.д.;

    • to see somebody – in the meaning of встречаться (поддерживать любовные отношения).

    He is seeing Vera now.
    Он сейчас встречается в Верой.

  • The verb to feel can be used either in continuous tenses or in indefinite ones.

    - How do you feel today?
    - Thank you I feel quite well.
    - Как вы себя чувствуете сегодня?
    - Спасибо вполне нормально.

    - Are you feeling comfortable?
    - I am feeling good.
    - Вам удобно?
    - Мне хорошо.

• Verbs denoting mental activity - to believe, to suppose, to find, to consider, to guess, etc.

  I find him handsome.
  Я нахожу его красивым.

  I guess you are right.
  Думаю, ты прав.

  Notes:

  • To think is not used in continuous tenses in the meaning of считать/полагать but it can be used in continuous tenses when it denotes the process of thinking.

    I think he won't cope with this situation.
    Думаю, что он не справится с этой ситуацией.

    When I came into the room, she was sitting at the fire and thinking about something.
    Когда я вошел в комнату, она сидела у камина и о чем-то думала.

    - Kate, what are you thinking about?
    - I think he will never marry her.
    - Катя, о чем ты думаешь?
    - Я думаю, что он никогда не жениться на ней.

  • To consider can be used in continuous tenses in the meaning of рассматривать.

    We are considering quite an important problem.
    Мы рассматриваем довольно важную проблему.

• Verbs expressing wish - to want, to wish, to desire, etc.

  I want you to go there at once.
  Я хочу, чтобы ты пошел туда немедленно.

• Verbs expressing feelings and emotions - to love, to like, to hate, to adore, to admire somebody, to despise, to respect, etc.

• Verbs denoting abstract relations - to be, to have (in the meaning of to possess), to possess, to owe, to own, etc.

  He has a charming wife.
  У него очаровательная жена.

  Notes:

  • To have can be used in continuous tenses in those cases where it lost the meaning of possession:

    • to have + the name of a meal:

      We are having breakfast.
      Мы завтракаем.

    • to have + the name of studies:

      We are having a lesson.
      У нас урок.

    • to have + the name of a trip, journey, etc.:

      I learnt that were having a voyage.
      Я узнал, что отправимся в плавание.

    • to have + the name of a rest, a holiday:

      We are having lunch-break.
      У нас перерыв на обед.

  • To be can be used in continuous tenses to express estimation of somebody's behavior.

    Am I being too personal?
    Это не слишком личное?

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