A brief review of possible problems with verbs in the progressive tenses including involuntary and voluntary usages of verbs. Created by Coleman's Classroom

1. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Verb Overview
Progressive Problems

2. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Involuntary / Voluntary Verbs
Sensory Perception Verbs:
Involuntary = passive unconscious
activities. NOT ALLOWED
PROGRESSIVE
Voluntary = active conscious activates.
USED IN PROGRESSIVE

3. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Involuntary / Voluntary
Involuntary
Hear
Smell
Taste
See
Feel
Voluntary
Listen to
Smell
Taste
Look at / Watch
Feel / Touch

4. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
She was watching the
Super Bowl when I
called.

5. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
She was watching the
Super Bowl when I
called.

6. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
He is smelling perfume
to pick out one for his
wife.

7. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
He is smelling perfume
to pick out one for his
wife.
smells

8. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
That perfume is
smelling terrific!

9. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
That perfume is
smelling terrific!
smells

10. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
I am seeing the Super
Bowl on Sunday.

11. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
I am seeing the Super
Bowl on Sunday.
am watching

12. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
I am hearing Mrs.
Coleman talk.

13. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
I am hearing Mrs.
Coleman talk.
hear or am listening to

14. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
I am not listening to
the radio.

15. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
I am not listening to
the radio.

16. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
This cake is tasting
great!

17. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
This cake is tasting
great!
tastes

18. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
We are always feeling
hot in this classroom.

19. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice
We are always feeling
hot in this classroom.
feel

20. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
More NON-progressive Verbs
Verbs of …
Possession and Relation
Emotion and Attitude
Mental Perceptions and Beliefs
State of Being

21. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
NEVER PROGRESSIVE
belong to concern consist of
contain cost depend on
deserve equal fit
have include involve
lack matter need
owe own possess
require resemble seem
sound

22. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
RARELY EVER PROGRESSIVE
abhor adore astonish
believe desire detest
dislike doubt forgive
hate imagine impress
intend know like
love mean mind
perceive please prefer
realize recall recognize
regard satisfy suppose
understand

23. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Progressive Special Problems
Use for Ongoing
Activity
Use with this +
time word
Use to show
intersection of
activities
DON’T USE for
habitual activity

24. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
I wonder what that exotic
spice in this sauce is? I am
tasting turmeric and
coriander, but there is
another spice I can’t identify.
Find the Errors:

25. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
I wonder what that exotic
spice in this sauce is? I am
taste turmeric and coriander,
but there is another spice I
can’t identify.
Find the Errors:

26. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
By the time her husband was
awakened by the smoke, she
had already been smelling the
fire downstairs and called the
fire department.
Find the Errors:

27. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
By the time her husband was
awakened by the smoke, she
had already smelled the fire
downstairs and called the fire
department.
Find the Errors:

28. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Find the Errors:
I touch the expensive vase
when it suddenly fell to the
floor and smashed into many
pieces. I felt very
embarrassed when I told my
grandmother about it.

29. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Find the Errors:
I was touching the expensive
vase when it suddenly fell to
the floor and smashed into
many pieces. I felt very
embarrassed when I told my
grandmother about it.

30. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Lisa, did you forget everything
I taught you about setting a
table? You put the fork on the
wrong side of the plate.
Find the Errors:

31. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Lisa, did you forget everything
I taught you about setting a
table? You put the fork on the
wrong side of the plate.
NO ERRORS!
Find the Errors:

32. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Jim studied in his room when
his sister arrived, so he didn’t
hear the door open.
Find the Errors:

33. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Jim was studying in his room
When his sister arrived, so he
didn’t hear the door open.
Find the Errors:

34. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
My sister and I take the
same classes this semester.
Find the Errors:

35. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
My sister and I are taking
the same classes this
semester.
Find the Errors:

36. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Find the Errors:
During the entire party, I
wasn’t recognizing the girl
in the red dress until she
began to laugh.

37. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Find the Errors:
During the entire party, I
didn’t recognize the girl in
the red dress until she
began to laugh.

38. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
This year, the university
works hard to recruit
students from Malaysia.
Find the Errors:

39. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Find the Errors:
This year, the university is
working hard to recruit
students from Malaysia.

40. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Go call the fire department,
I am smelling smoke.
Find the Errors:

41. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Go call the fire department,
I smell smoke.
Find the Errors:

42. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
In spite of many arguments
against the idea, John is
still believing that men are
superior to women.
Find the Errors:

43. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
In spite of many arguments
against the idea, John still
believes that men are
superior to women.
Find the Errors:

44. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
I’m not understanding what
you are trying to say right
now.
Find the Errors:

45. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
I do not understand what
you are trying to say right
now.
Find the Errors:

46. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
For More Information
Email Mrs. C
ccoleman@clmn.net
Visit Coleman’s Classroom
www.clmn.net