Self Study Guide – Test Your English Grammar Part 04

Owe (to have to pay money back) is a state verb, so it is not normally used in the continuous form. Use the present simple question: How much money do you owe him? Not own, which means 'to have something as your property'.

Here taste is an action (trying the soup), so it can be continuous. Look at her! shows it is happening now, so we use the present continuous: is tasting.

Smell meaning 'have a smell' is a state verb, so we use the present simple: The milk smells sour. Not is smelling, because the milk is not doing an action.

The main verb tried is in the past, so the second verb also goes into the past: to see how it tasted. Taste meaning 'have a flavour' is a state verb, so the continuous was tasting is wrong.

Taste of something (have the flavour of it) is a state verb, so we use the present simple. The subject this soup is singular: tastes. Not is tasting, because the soup is not doing an action.

Contain is a state verb, so it is not used in the continuous form. The story is in the past (we used), so we need the past simple: contained. Not was containing, because state verbs are not normally continuous.

Want is a state verb, so we use the present simple even for something happening now: I want to get this car started. Not am wanting, because want is normally not used in continuous forms.

Look meaning 'seem' is a state verb, so we use the present simple. Hair is uncountable and takes a singular verb: my hair looks. Not look, because hair is singular here.

Hear (sound reaches your ears) is a state verb, so it is not normally continuous: I don't hear you (more often I can't hear you). Not am not listening, because the speaker is trying to listen and asks to hear it again.

Smell meaning 'have a smell' is a state verb, so we say It smells delicious. I don't drink coffee is a general habit, so we use the present simple. Options with is smelling or am not drinking use the continuous where it does not fit.

We say belong to someone, and belong is a state verb, so it takes the present simple. In a question the preposition goes at the end: Who does it belong to? The other options miss to or wrongly use the continuous.

Have meaning 'do or experience' (have a gossip, have a chat) is an action, so it can be continuous. The gossip is happening now (Join us), so we use the present continuous: are having. Not has been having, because we needs have, not has.

We use the present continuous for a change that is happening around now: You are getting fat. Not get, because the present simple would describe a general habit, not a change in progress.

To report what a sign or notice says, we use say or read in the present simple: It reads 'Leave your car here.' Not is writing, because the sign does not write anything.

Have a conversation is an action, and I wonder what they are talking about shows it is happening now. So we use the present continuous: are having. Not has been having, because Tom and Mr. Pitt is plural.

The answer Me, when I can afford it shows we are talking about a habit, so we use the present simple. With who as the subject there is no do: Who drinks champagne?

The bird is flying now, so the question is about an action happening at the moment. Use the present continuous: What are you looking at?

Have a great time is an experience happening now (I'm in France now), so we use the present continuous: I am having. Not have, because the present simple is for habits and facts.

The word now and the answer about the radio show the question is about a sound at this moment. So we use the present continuous: Is your son playing the violin now? Not Does your son play, which asks about a habit or ability.

We use the present continuous for a change in progress around now: the weather is changing. The word now is the clue. Not changes, which would be a general fact.

The current situation and now describe a trend in progress, so we use the present continuous. Audiences is plural: are declining. Not is decreasing, because the verb must be plural.

At the moment and I can't interrupt him show the action is happening now, so we use the active present continuous: He is making a phone call. Not is being made, which is passive.

Have dinner means 'eat dinner'. It is an action, so it can be continuous. The speaker is eating right now and can't answer the phone, so we use am having. Not have, because that would describe a habit.

The speaker is in Paris now and describes what they are doing during this stay, so we use the present continuous: I am eating like mad (eating a lot). Not am not eating, because I like the food gives the opposite meaning.

We use the present continuous for a temporary project going on around now: He is currently working on a history of… The adverb currently usually goes after is. Not currently work or currently write, because he needs a verb with -s.