状态动词

一般而言，如果不表达某一特殊含义，连系动词是没有进行时和完成时的。seem, appear等连系动词的进行时和完成时也必须通过其后的不定式或从句来表达。而表示状态变化的连系动词都可以直接用进行时、完成时及将来时来表达正在（渐渐）、已经或将要“变得”或“成为”等时间概念或意义。试比较下列几组句子：

1) He seemed to be writing something.(=It seemed that he was writing something.)
他好象在写什么东西。
Our country is becoming (或getting) stronger and stronger.
我们国家日益强大。
2) He seems (或appears) to have been to Beijing. (=It seems (或appears) that he has been to Beijing.)
他似乎去过北京。
The custom has now become a rule.
那习俗现已变为成规。
This material has worn thin.
这料子已磨薄了。
3) It seems as if it is going to rain.
看来快下雨了。
The milk in the cup will go bad.
杯子里的牛奶要坏了。

例如： The boy is 150 centimeters tall. 这个男孩150厘米高。

My husband has several shirts of different colors. 我丈夫有好几件颜色不同的衬衫。

而不可以说：The boy is being 150 centimeters tall.

My husband is having several shirts of different colors.

如：belong to, contain, differ from, matter, own等。这类状态动词通常都不可以用于进行时。例如：

That dictionary belongs to me. 那本字典是属于我的

。不能说：That dictionary is belonging to me．

如 hear, see, feel, taste, smell等。

例如： The old man doesn’t hear very well．那位老人听觉不太好。

不能说The old man isn’t hearing very well．

The meat tastes delicious. 这肉味道真好。

但不可以说：The meat is tasting delicious.

如 believe, consider, expect, imagine, regret，remember等。这类动词通常也都不用于进行时。

例如： He does not believe in Howard’s honesty. 他不相信霍华德为人真诚。

不能说He is not believing in Howard’s honesty.

某些状态动词也可指代动作，在此情况下，状态动词可用进行时。 例如: The girl is feeling the pot. 那个女孩在摸那个壶。