Stative Verbs in Continuous Forms

Special uses of stative verbs.

Examples

• I'm loving it.
• He's being silly.

Key rules

• Stative verbs (know, believe, love, belong) are usually not continuous
• Some have dynamic meanings: I am thinking (considering), She is having lunch
• I am loving it is informal and marketing language
• Sense verbs: can see rather than am seeing

Common mistakes

• I am knowing him → I know him
• She is having a car → She has a car