Verbs not used in the Continuous form

It naturally follows from the definition of the Continuous form ("it denotes an action in a state of process at the present moment or at a definite moment in the past or future") that verbs, which do not express a process, are not used in the continuous form. The following groups of verbs do not express a process:

a) verbs denoting sense perception (to see, to hear),

Note. – The verb to feel is an exception. It is often used in the Continuous form.

I am feeling better today, or I feel better today.

b) verbs denoting mental activity (to know, to believe).

c) verbs denoting wish (to want, to wish),

d) verbs denoting feeling (to love, to hate, to like),

e) verbs denoting abstract relations (to have, to consist, to depend, to belong). 

In such expressions as to see the sights of; to see somebody home; to see somebody off the verb to see does not mean «видеть», so it can be used in the Continuous form.     

They were seeing the sights of London while their cousin waited for them at the hotel. (Wells)

It is naturally possible to use the Continuous form of the verb to have in the expressions of the type to have dinner (lunch, supper), because it does not denote possession.

They are having lunch.

The verb to think cannot be used in the Continuous form if it denotes an opinion; it can if it denotes a process of thought.

I think you are right.

I am thinking of what you have just said.

The verb to admire cannot be used in the Continuous form if it means «восхищаться», it can if it means «любоваться».

«I hope you dote on Harry the Eighth!» «I admire him very much,» said Carker. (Dickens)

What are you doing here, my poetic little friend? Admiring the moon, eh? (Collins)

The Perfect Form

The Perfect form denotes an action completed before the present moment (and connected with it) or before a definite moment in the past or future.                                                   

It is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to have in the required tense and Participle II of the notional verb.

The Present Perfect

§ 7. The use of the Present Perfect.

The Present Perfect has three main uses.

1. It expresses an action that happened at some time in one’s life. The action is in the past and finished, but the effects of the action are still felt.

I’ve been to the States. (I still remember)

How many times has he been married? (In his life)

Note that questions and answers about definite times are expressed in the Past Indefinite.

When did you go to the States?

He met his second wife in the dry cleaner’s.

2. It expresses a past action that has a present result. The action is usually in the recent past.

I’ve lost my wallet. (I haven’t got it now)

The taxi hasn’t arrived (We are still waiting for it)

We often announce news in the Present Perfect.

Have you heard? The Prime Ministerhas resigned.

Note the adverbs that are common with this use: yet, already, just, recently, lately.

The Present Perfect can be rendered in Russian by the past perfective or imperfective.

How many pages have you translated for today?

Сколько страниц вы перевели к сегодняшнему дню?

Have you ever translated technical articles?

Вы когда-нибудь переводили технические статьи?

The Present Perfect is used in adverbial clauses of time after the conjunctions when, till, until, before, after, as soon as to denote an action completed before a definite moment in the future.

Don't buy any more meat to-morrow until you have spoken to the mistress about it. (Bennett)

I am not going till you have answered me. (Galsworthy)

Note. – Verbs of sense perception and motion such as to hear, to see, to come, to arrive, to return in adverbial clauses of time are generally used in the Present Indefinite and not in the Present Perfect.

I am sure he will recognize the poem when he hears the first line.

Я уверен, он узнает стихотворение, когда услышит первую строку.

We'll ask Mr. Franklin, my dear, if you can wait till Mr. Franklin comes.

Мы спросим Мистера Фрэнклина, дорогая, если вы можете подождать, пока он придет.

When the completion of the action is emphasized, the Present Perfect is used.

He will know the poem by heart when he has heard it twice.

Он будет знать стихотворение наизусть, когда дважды прослушает его.

3. The Present Perfect denotes an action which began in the past, has been going on up to the present and is still going on. In this case either the starting point of the action is indicated or the whole period of duration. The preposition for is used to denote the whole period of duration. Since is used to indicate the starting point of the action. If the conjunction since introduces a clause, the verb in this clause is in the Past Indefinite.

Mr. Cowperwood, I have known you now for something like fourteen years. (Dreiser)

We have been engaged these four years. (Austen)

Where have you been since last Thursday? (Wilde)

Have you been alone, Florence, since I was here last? (Dickens)

This use of the Present Perfect is called the Present Perfect Inclusive.

The Present Perfect Inclusive is used:

a) with verbs not admitting of the Continuous form.

"There is nothing to be done. She's dead—has been dead for hours," said the doctor. (Eliot)

b) in negative sentences. (In this case the Present Perfect Continuous is not impossible).

I have not slept since that night. (Bennett)

c) with non-terminative verbs such as to live, to work, to study, to teach, to travel, etc. (In this case the Present Perfect Continuous is possible.)

I have worked upon the problem for a long time without reaching any conclusion. (Shaw)

How long have you lived here?

The Present Perfect in this case is translated into Russian by the present or sometimes by the past imperfective.

I have known him for many years.

Я знаю его много лет.

I have always been fond of music.

Я всегда любил музыку.

Note. In the following cases the Present Perfect is not used.

1. Что вы сказали?        What did you say?

2. Теперь я понял.         Now I understand.

The Present Perfect is hardly ever used in the following cases.

1. Я не слышал вашего вопроса.         I did not hear your question.

2.Мне сказали, что Мэри в Москве.    I am told that Mary is in Moscow.

3. Я слышал, что Мэри в Москве. I hear that Mary is in Moscow,

("to hear'" is not a verb of sense perception here, it means ' "the rumour reached me")

With the verb to forget expressing a certain fact both the Present Indefinite and the Present Perfect can be used.

1. Я забыл, где он живет.           I forget (have forgotten) where he lives.

2. Я забыл название книги.                  I forget (have forgotten) the title of

the book.

Compare: I have forgotten to ring her up (a certain action).

§ 8. The Past Indefinite and the Present Perfect.

An action expressed by the Past Indefinite belongs exclusively to the sphere of the past, while the Present Perfect shows that a past occurrence is connected with the present time.

She is not well and has changed very much of late.

She changed very much a great many years ago. (Dickens)

The Present Perfect is never used with such adverbial modifiers of the past time as yesterday, the other day, last week, etc. With such adverbial modifiers as today, this week, etc. both the Present Perfect and the Past Indefinite are used. The tenses are used according to the principle mentioned above.

I have told you three times this week that she is coming home for a year. (Dreiser)

I want your sister, the woman who gave me money today. (Dickens)

With the adverb just the Present Perfect is used.

I have just hired a new pianist from St. Joe—a Negro. (Dreiser)

With the expression just now the Past Indefinite is used.

I saw you come in just now. (Dreiser)

Just now is less frequent than just.

The Past Perfect

§ 9. The use of the Past Perfect.

1. The Past Perfect denotes an action completed before a certain moment in the past. The moment may be indicated by another past action expressed by a verb in the Past Indefinite or by an adverbial phrase.

After she had cried out, she felt easier. (Heym)

Fortunately the rain had stopped before we started. (Bennett)

By this time he had written Aileen under no circumstances to try to see him. (Dreiser)

The definite moment can be understood from the situation.

The Squire had laid down his knife and fork, and was staring at his son in amazement. (Eliot)

The Past Perfect is used with the conjunctions hardly... when, scarcely... when, no sooner... than.

Mrs. Winthrop had no sooner left the room than they began to gossip about her. (Austen)

Не успела миссис Уинтроп выйти из комнаты, как они начали сплетничать о ней.

Mr. Jenkins had hardly begun his speech when he was interrupted. (Austen)

Едва мистер Дженкинс начал свою речь, как его перебили. (Austen)

For the sake of emphasis the word order may be inverted.

No sooner had Mrs. Winthrop left the room than they began to gossip about her. (Austen)

The Past Perfect is frequently used with the adverbs just, already, yet.

2. Sometimes the Past Perfect does not denote priority but only the completion of the action.

He waited until she had found the latchkey and opened the door.

Он подождал, пока она отыскала ключ и открыла дверь.

The Past Perfect is rendered in Russian by the past perfective.

3. The Past Perfect is used to denote an action, which began before a definite moment in the past, continued up to that moment and was still going on at that moment. This use is called the Past Perfect Inclusive. The starting point or the whole period of duration of the action is indicated. To indicate the starting point the preposition since is used, to indicate the whole period of duration for is used. The Past Perfect Inclusive is used:

a) with verbs not admitting of the Continuous form.

Examination convinced him that the deacon was dead — had been dead for some time. (Eliot)

b) in negative sentences. (In this case the Past Perfect Continuous is also possible, but not common.)

Those two had not spoken to each other for three days and were in a state of rage. (Bennett)

c) with non-terminative verbs such as to work, to live, to study, to teach, to travel, to last, etc. (In this case the Past Perfect Continuous is possible.)

The ride had lasted about ten minutes, when the truck suddenly swerved to a halt. (Heym)

The Past Perfect Inclusive is generally rendered in Russian by the past perfective.

He had not written a line since he arrived.

Он не написал ни строчки с тех пор, как приехал.

§ 10. The Past Indefinite and the Past Perfect.

1. The Past Perfect is not used to denote a succession of actions. In this case the Past Indefinite is used.

The Past Indefinite is used with the conjunctions after, before, when if the relation between the actions approaches succession, i. e. when the idea of completion is of no importance.

He went on with his work after he had a short rest.

He had a short rest before he went on with his work.

When I wrote the letter, I posted it.

2. Verbs of motion and sense perception such as to come, to arrive, to return, to see, to hear, in adverbial clauses of time are generally used in the Past Indefinite and not in the Past Perfect. The actions are practically simultaneous.

When he came down, ... he found his mother scrupulous in a low evening dress... (Galsworthy)

When he heard the first line of the poem, he recognized it at once.

When the completion of the action is emphasized the Past Perfect is used.

He knew the poem by heart when he had heard it several times.