G3:  Verbs VI - Non-Action vs. Action Verbs

by Tom Rohrbach

Multiple Choice Quiz

Some verbs in English are always non-action → "want" and "need", for example.

Others are sometimes action and sometimes non-action → "think", "taste", "smell", "look", "have", and others.

 

If you are describing a fact or condition, you should use a simple tense - usually simple present or simple past.

    Examples:  "This food tastes good."   "His dirty socks smelled bad."   "I think that puppy is cute."

 

If you are describing action, you should use a continuous tense.

    Examples:  "The chef is tasting the food."   "Angie is thinking about her family."  

    "The baby is looking at his fingers."   "My friends are having a dinner party next weekend."