Verbs You Can NEVER Use with -ING | Easy English Conversation for Beginners

Main ideas / lesson conveyed

• The video explains stative verbs (also called state verbs): verbs that describe states, not physical actions.
• Stative verbs express things happening “inside” a person—such as feelings, thoughts, beliefs, or situations. Because they’re not physical actions, they can’t be directly “seen” the way action verbs can.
• Key contrast:
  • Action verbs (e.g., run, eat, write, cook) are things you do, and they can often be observed.
  • Stative verbs (e.g., love, know, see in specific meanings) are things you feel/think/have, and they generally aren’t actions you choose in the moment.

Stative verb groups (with examples)

1) Feeling state verbs

• Verbs: like, love, hate, want, need
• Meaning: feelings or desires (in the mind/inner experience)

Examples from the video:

• I like chocolate.
• She loves her dog.
• He hates mornings.
• I want a new book.
• You need sleep.

“Hate” strength note:

• I don’t like mushrooms = softer
• I hate mushrooms = much stronger
• Advice: be careful with how strongly you use hate.

Negation rule shown for stative verbs:

• Use don’t / doesn’t

Examples:

• I don’t like spicy food.
• She doesn’t want coffee.
• He doesn’t know the answer.
• Max doesn’t care.

2) Sense verbs (seeing/hearing) — state vs action distinction

State verbs: see, hear

• See and hear are described as things that just happen (eyes/ears “get the picture/sound” automatically).

Action verbs: look, listen

• Look and listen involve choosing to direct attention.

Examples from the video:

• State:
  • I see a bird in the tree. (eyes notice)
  • I hear the rain outside right now. (you just perceive it)
• Action:
  • I am looking at the bird. (you choose)
  • I am listening to you right now. (you choose)

Rule phrased in the video:

• See/hear = states (just happens)
• Look/listen = actions/choices (you decide)

3) Thinking state verbs

• Verbs: know, understand, believe, remember
• Meaning: mental processes happening in the mind (not physical body actions)

Examples from the video:

• I know your name.
• She understands the lesson.
• He believes in himself.
• I remember my first teacher.

Spelling/meaning emphasis (example):

• Believe = think something is true (a belief in your heart)

Detailed “big grammar rule” (core methodology/instructions)

• Rule: State verbs don’t use -ing.
• You can’t put state verbs in the present continuous form.
• Present continuous = “am/is/are + verb-ing” (used for actions happening right now).
• The video’s rule: for stative verbs, use the simple present instead.

Correct vs incorrect examples:

• Action verb (OK in -ing):
  • I am running. ✅
• State verb (NOT OK in -ing):
  • I am knowing. ❌ (wrong)
  • Correct: I know. ✅

General contrast phrasing:

• Action verbs: can use simple and -ing
• State verbs: only simple present (no -ing)

Practice/repair method shown in the video:

• The teacher gives wrong sentences and the other speaker corrects them by:
  • Removing -ing
  • Switching to simple present (want → wants, know → knows, etc.)

Examples of corrections performed:

• I am wanting a sandwich. → I want a sandwich.
• She is knowing the answer. → She knows the answer.
• They are needing help. → They need help.
• I am understanding this lesson now. → I understand this lesson now.
• We are liking this restaurant. → We like this restaurant.
• I am seeing a problem here. → I see a problem here. (because see is a state here)

Tricky verbs (exceptions/meaning changes)

Verb: have

Have as “own” (state):

• I have a dog. ✅ (owning = state)
• ❌ I am having a dog.

Have as “eat/enjoy/hold” (action):

• I am having lunch. ✅ (eating = action)
• We are having a party. ✅
• She is having a good time. ✅

Meaning determines the grammar:

• If have = own → no -ing
• If have = eat/enjoy/hold → -ing is allowed

Verb: think

Think = “believe” (state):

• I think this is easy. ✅ (believing)
• ❌ I am thinking this is easy (in that “believe” meaning)

Think = “use your brain / consider” (action):

• I am thinking about dinner. ✅ (mental working/considering)

Meaning decides whether -ing is valid:

• think = believe → no -ing
• think = consider → allows -ing

Key recap items (as stated)

• Stative verbs show states, not actions.
• Feeling group: like, love, hate, want, need
• Sense states: see, hear
• Sense actions (choices): look, listen
• Thinking states: know, understand, believe, remember
• Big rule: Don’t use -ing with state verbs.
• Have and think are tricky because they can change meaning (state vs action).

Speakers / sources featured

• Judy (host/instructor)
• Jake (co-host/learner)