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Types of Verbs
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Before you begin the verb tense lessons, it is extremely important to understand that NOT all English verbs are the same. English verbs are divided into three groups:

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Group I Continuous Verbs

     The first group, called "Continuous Verbs", contains most English verbs. These verbs are usually physical actions which you can see somebody doing. These verbscan be used in all tenses.

Continuous Verbs
   to run, to walk, to eat, to fly, to go, to say, to touch etc.

Examples:

I eat dinner every day. Correct

I am eating dinner now. Correct

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Group II Non-continuous Verbs

The second group, called "Non-continuous Verbs", is smaller. These verbs are usually things you cannot see somebody doing. These verbs are rarely used in"continuous" tenses. They include:

Abstract Verbs
   to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist...

Possession Verbs
   to possess, to own, to belong...

Emotion Verbs
   to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind...

Examples:

He is here now.    Correct
He is being here now.    Not Correct

He wants a drink now.    Correct
Heis wanting a drink now.    Not Correct

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Group III Mixed Verbs

   The third group, called "Mixed Verbs", is the smallest group. These verbs have more than one meaning. Some meanings behave like "Non-continuous Verbs", while other meanings behave like "Continuous Verbs."

Mixed Verbs
to have, to appear, to see, to hear, to feel, to weigh, to look ...

List of Mixed Verbs withExamples and Definitions:

to appear:

Donna appears confused.    Non-continuous Verb
(Donna seems confused.)

My favorite singer is appearing at the jazz club tonight.    Continuous Verb
(My favorite singer is giving a performance at the jazz club tonight.)

to have:

I have a dollar now.    Non-continuous Verb
(I possess a dollar.)

I am having fun now.    Continuous Verb
(I amexperiencing fun now.)

to hear:

She hears the music.    Non-continuous Verb
(She hears the music with her ears.)

She is hearing voices.    Continuous Verb
(To hear something others cannot hear. She is hearing voices in her mind.)

to miss:

John misses Sally.    Non-continuous Verb
(He is sad because she is not there.)

Debbie is missing her favorite TV program.    Continuous Verb(She is not there to see her favorite program.)

to see:

I see her.    Non-continuous Verb
(I see her with my eyes.)

I am seeing the doctor.    Continuous Verb
(To visit or consult with a doctor, dentist, or lawyer.)

I am seeing her.    Continuous Verb
(I am having a relationship with her.)

He is seeing ghosts at night.    Continuous Verb
(To see something others cannot see. Forexample ghosts, aura, a vision of the future etc.)

to smell:

The coffee smells good.    Non-continuous Verb
(The coffee has a good smell.)

I am smelling the flowers.    Continuous Verb
(I am sniffing the flowers.)

to taste:

The coffee tastes good.    Non-continuous Verb
(The coffee has a good taste.)

I am tasting the cake.    Continuous Verb
(I am trying the cake to see whatit tastes like.)

to think:

He thinks the test is easy.    Non-continuous Verb
(He considers the test to be easy.)

She is thinking about the question.    Continuous Verb
(She is pondering the question, going over it in her mind.)

to weigh:

The table weighs a lot.    Non-continuous Verb
(The table has a great weight.)

She is weighing herself.    Continuous Verb
(She isdetermining her weight.)


Some Verbs Can Be Especially Confusing:

to be:

Joe is American.    Non-continuous Verb
(Joe is an American citizen.)

Joe is being very American.    Continuous Verb
(Joe is behaving like a stereotypical American.)

Joe is being very rude.    Continuous Verb
(Joe is behaving very rudely. Usually he is not rude.)

Joe is being very formal.    Continuous Verb...