Page 169 - English - Teaching Academic Esl Writing

TEACHING VERB TENSES AND VOICE 155
3. perceptions that are involuntary (i.e., the doer of the action [the grammatical subject] has little control of the action; e.g., consist [of], contain, hear, resemble, perceive)
In teaching, whenever possible, it is helpful to contrast the nonprogressive uses of some verbs in formal prose with progressive uses of proximate activity verbs. For example,
know—learn see—look—watch—observe hear—listen contain—place/put (into)
*is/was knowing—is/was learning
*is/was seeing —is/was looking—watching—observing *is/was fiearing—is/was listening
*is/was containing—is/was placing
The complex meanings of nonprogressive verbs, such as stative, may make them difficult for L2 writers to use appropriately. However, the com- mon few items can be simply learned.
agree appear appreciate associate attain attribute base believe
belong concern conclude consist (of) contain correlate cost
desire
dislike have dissolve hear doubt include equal initiate exist interest fear invent find know guarantee like
matter promise understand mean realize weigh
need recognize
owe resemble
own see perceive seem possess sound prefer surprise
Common Non-progressive Verbs
Nonprogressive verbs are important for L2 writers to know because these items can be used only in simple tenses (the simple present or simple past).
On the whole, progressive tenses are rare in academic prose. How- ever, they are common in conversations and spoken discourse. For this reason, the usage of progressive verbs may impart a somewhat conversational flavor to academic writing. In formal academic writ- ing, simple present (and occasionallysimple past) tenses can be much more effective and easier for students to use.
2
In such constructions as Mary isseeingJohn orJohn isseeing a new doctor, seehas the meanings
of date or visit, both of which can take the progressive tense. Also in conversational register, it is possibletosay,lam hearingyou.Suchstructures,however,maybeinappropriateinmostcontexts.
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