English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
USING TENSE APPROPRIATELY
Verbs not used in the continuous form
- The verbs showing the five senses (see, hear, smell, taste, feel) are not used in the continuous form:
I am seeing you from here. ✖️
I can see you from here. ✔️
I am not hearing you clearly. ✖️
I can’t hear you clearly. ✔️
Note, however, that when these verbs are used figuratively, they could be used in the continuous form. For instance, “see” could attract -ing when it means an arrangement to meet with someone and “hear” too when it means a court proceeding:
I am seeing my doctor tomorrow. ✔️
The court is hearing the case this morning. ✔️
- Mental and emotional verbs such as believe, understand, desire and wish do not attract -ing except when used in place of a noun or an adjective.
I am believing you. ✖️
I believe you. ✔️
Seeing is believing. ✔️
“Believing” in the last sentence is called a participle. Participles are -ing verbs that function as adjectives.
GAB
1 Comment
Doc, I have learnt a lot from your mails. More so, undergrads of the Lagos State University who attend your classes, speak of your effective pedagogy. Right on, sir.