Using the present simple and continuous

Using the present continuous page 5 of 9

With verbs representing thinking

With verbs representing various kinds of thinking, such as think, believe, suppose and remember, the normal tense used when referring to present time is the present simple tense.

However, the choice of the present continuous is also possible:

bullet.gif (991 bytes) where the clause represents a kind of activity or behaviour rather than reporting a fact or idea:

Is that the thing you are thinking about? (Bank of English)

Here thinking represents a kind of mental activity. Compare this to: I think that it is about 5 o'clock. Consider also:

He is forgetting that in music you can be a millionaire in one day. (Microconcord Corpus A)

Here the person is represented as behaving or speaking in a way that does not take account of a certain fact. Compare this to: I always forget your phone number.
bullet.gif (991 bytes) where the clause represents a mental process that is just beginning or developing:

I am understanding this concept properly for the first time now. (University Student)

This latter usage is not common and would not be of high priority for most learners.
bullet.gif (991 bytes) where an idea, opinion or request is put forward in a tentative way, often as a way of being more polite:

I'm thinking that we should perhaps reconsider our whole approach. (Business Consultant)

I'm wondering if the two of you could give us a couple of for-instances. (Bank of English)

Compare these examples to: I wonder if they have arrived yet.

For further information about using verbs representing thinking in the present continuous, see 04conten.gif (549 bytes) Representing thinking, perceiving, liking and desiring: Using verb patterns to represent thoughts and beliefs (p 14).

Introduction
Actions or events in progress
Repeated actions
Planned actions
square.gif (58 bytes) With verbs representing thinking
With verbs representing perception
With verbs representing likes and dislikes
With verbs representing desires and needs
With verbs representing being and having