| State | Action | |
| Indefinite | Continuous | |
| 1 be | He is noisy. (general characteristic) | He is being noisy. (behaves or pretends on purpose) |
| 2 have | We have a car. (possession) | We are having dinner. (no meaning of possession) |
| 3 feel | I feel you’re wrong. (consider, think) The cloth feels soft. (link verb) | The doctor is feeling my pulse. (touch) I was feeling for the keyhole in the dark. (try to find smth by touching) |
| BUT!I feel better. Or I am feeling better. (both are possible) | ||
| 4 depend | It depends on the weather. (to be dependent on smth) | I am depending on you. (rely) |
| 5 see | I see what you mean. (understand) I see a bird in that tree. (sense perception) | I am seeing him tomorrow. (meet by appointment) We are seeing about a work permit. (try to arrange) I am seeing them to the bus. (escort) She is seeing him off. |
| 6 hear | I’m listening but I don’t hear anything. (sense perception) | The court is hearing evidence today. I am hearing all about it these days. (receive news) I am hearing from him less and less. (receive letters, phone calls) |
| 7 smell | The meat smells awful. | Why are you smelling the meat? |
| 8 sound | The music sounds loud. | The driver is sounding the horn. |
| 9taste | The tea tastes bitter. | Why are you tasting the cake? |
| 10 weigh | The bag weighs five kilos. | We are weighing the bag. |
| 11 measure | The street measures 12 km. | We are measuring the street. |
| 12 look | This place looks strange. | I am looking for my key. Why are you looking at me? Who is looking after him? Etc. |
| BUT!You look nice. Or You are looking nice. | ||
| 13 think | I think he is right. (opinion) | I am thinking about the holidays. (the process of thinking) |
| 14 consider | We consider him our friend. (believe) | We are considering your application. (study) |
| 15 fit | The coat fits. (to be the right size) | I am fitting the lock to the window. |
| 16 come | I come from Sweden. (live or was born) | I am coming from Sweden. (travel) |
| 17 appear | She appears very nervous. (seem) | She is appearing in the film next month. (come before the public) |
| 18 hold | How many people does this room hold?(contain) | I am holding my arm straight. |
| 19 exist | These birds don’t exist anymore. (be) | People are existing here only on what they can find. (keep themselves alive) |
| 20 compare | My roses don’t compare with yours. (be as good as) | The author is comparing the information. |
| 21 mind | Does anyone mind opening the door? (object) | Everyone is minding their own business. (look after) |
| 22 expect | I expect that he will come. (think) | I am expecting my friend. (wait) |






