GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK

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62 Action verbs and state verbs
5 Some verbs always express states and so cannot be continuous.
At the moment the building contains some old machinery.
I know the town quite well now.
These verbs are belong to, consist of, contain, depend on, deserve, desire, know,
matter, own, possess, prefer, seem.
NOTE
The expression get to know can be continuous.
I'm getting to know the town quite well.
6 Hurt, ache and feel can be simple or continuous with little difference in meaning.
My arm hurt/was hurting. I feel/I'm feeling depressed.
7 We often use can and could for perceptions.
I can see something under the sofa.
We could hear music. 1 can smell something burning.
Sam could feel the weight of the rucksack.
We do not normally use the continuous. NOT I'm seeing something.
We can use the past simple when the thing that we saw or heard was a complete
action.
We saw a magnificent sunset.
Tom heard the whole story.
They felt the building shake.
Smell, taste and feel as action verbs express a deliberate action.
Steve picked up the bottle and smelted the milk.
When we arrived, people were already tasting the wine.
Judy was feeling her way in the dark.
NOTE
a See (= meet) is an action verb, and see (= understand) is a state verb.
I'm seeing the doctor in half an hour.
You put the cassette in here, like this. ~ Oh, I see.
b Look (at something), watch and listen are action verbs.
We looked/We were looking at the sunset.
c Feel (= believe) is a state verb.
I feel we should discuss the matter.