verbs not used in the present perfect simple

[hela]

Dear teachers,

On a handout I read: "Some verbs connot be used in the present perfect. Name a few."

Is that true or should the teacher have written "in the present perfect PROGRESSIVE" ?

Kind regards,
Hela

[Anne Lenief]

Dear teachers,

On a handout I read: "Some verbs connot be used in the present perfect. Name a few."

Is that true or should the teacher have written "in the present perfect PROGRESSIVE" ?

Kind regards,
Hela

Dear Hela,

There are verbs which cannot be used in the present perfect such as "to be born" but there are several which cannot be used in the present perfect progressive because they are "state" verbs or because of the context of the text or the inherent meaning of the verb itself. An example of a state verb which is never used in any progressive tense is "to know". An example of a verb where the context or meaning dictates the use of the simple or progressive tense is "to cut". You can say "He has been cutting the grass for 2 hours" but you wouldn' say "I've been cutting my finger" .

I hope this has been of some help.

Regards,
Anne Lenief

[hela]

Thanks Anne,

Other than "to be born" are there other verbs that cannot be used in the present perfect ?

Best wishes to all,
Hela

[Tdol]

I think you can use 'be born' in the present perfect- three thousand babies have been born this year with xxx illness, say.

[hela]

Hello TDOL,

So according to you all verbs can be used in the present perfect "simple" but not in the present perfect progressive like some state verbs.

Are "hope, remember, forget" state verbs which cannot be used in the progressive form? What about "choose", it can be used in the progressive, can't it?

Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to you.
And thanks again to all members and moderators that are there daily to help.

Hela

[Tdol]

Many of the verbs that 'cannot' be used in the progressive form do have progressive forms, but are used very rarely. 'Choose' can be used in the present progressive- the present perfect progressive would be unusual. The other examples you give are all verbs that are generally not used in the progressive. I can't think of a verb that cannot be used in the present perfect simple- there probably is one somewhere, other than modals like 'must' whee we have to use a different way to express the idea.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too.