Representing thinking, perceiving, liking and desiring
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Using verb patterns to represent desires and needs | page 12 of 12 |
Present simple v present continuous tense
With verbs which represent desires and needs, the present simple tense is the normal tense for referring to the present situation. Note that the present situation may extend into the past and future as well:
I want the world to know that life in Vietnam is terrible if you are a soldier of the old regime. (SCMP 2/6/92)
They have to be in by 8:00 pm and they need permission to go out during the day. (SCMP 5/6/92)
For some verbs, it is not possible (or at least it is very unusual) to express the same idea in the present continuous:
I am wanting the world to know that life in Vietnam is terrible if you are a soldier of the old regime.
They have to be in by 8:00 pm and they are needing permission to go out during the day.
However, it is possible to use the present continuous tense with many verbs which represent desires and needs, especially when the speaker's response is more tentative (or perhaps, when they want to appear non-committal):
A: What do you actually hope to do eventually? Have you any idea? B: Well I am hoping to do something to do with astronomy. (Bank of English)
Note that sometimes the past continuous is used; this has the effect of making the speaker appear even more tentative, and is commonly used to make the query sound more polite:
I was … I was wanting to ask questions about um ... I wasn't happy about … erm … sketching the graph. (Bank of English)
For further information about the present simple and present continuous, see 
Using the present simple and continuous: Overview.
Introduction
Present simple v present continuous tense
