[Grammar] hears/is hearing

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rock-onn

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She hears the music. Here, hears is a non-continuous verb. Why?

She is hearing voices. Here, hearing is normal verb.

Why hears in first sentence is a non-continuous verb?
 

Raymott

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'Continuous' describes a tense, not a verb. 'Hears' is not a non-continuous verb, because such a thing doesn't exist unless you are making up a new definition.
Your first sentence is in the simple present tense.
You second example sentence is in the present continuous tense. However, both use the same verb - 'to hear'.
 

Barb_D

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Like many verbs that learners are told should not be in the continuous tense, "hear" can be in the continuous when it's new and believed to be temporary.
 

rock-onn

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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: Normal Verbs, Non-Continuous Verbs, and Mixed Verbs.

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/types.html
Please read above link.

The examples I qouted is listed in this page.

I just wish to know why hears is non continuous verb.
Thanks
 

emsr2d2

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Whatever that page might say (the link doesn't work), it is perfectly possible to use "hear" in the continuous.

A. Where is your cousin?
B. Unfortunately, she's in the local psychiatric hospital.
A. Oh no! Why?
B. She's having some psychological problems.
A. Like what?
B. She hears voices, has hallucinations and thinks everyone is trying to kill her.

A. Is that your cousin?
B. Yes, that's her.
A. Why is she banging her head against the wall and holding her hands over her ears?
B. I think she's hearing voices. It's one of the symptoms of her psychological problems.

In the first dialogue, the present simple is used to describe a regular, habitual issue. In the second dialogue, B is talking about exactly what is happening at the time of speaking.
 

Raymott

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http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/types.html
Please read above link.
OK, well someone has made a new classification of verbs. That can't be prevented. Unfortunately, they don't define what a non-continuous verb is - though they do give two characteristics that sometimes apply to them.
(I assume from the above replies that a non-continuous verb is one that should not be used in a continuous tense unless you know what you're doing.)
 
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bhaisahab

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I don't have a problem with "She isn't feeling well".
 

Raymott

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My ESL adults asked me about this back in the day. I had to look it up, but it seems that you should typically avoid using the present progressive for most verbs relating to senses (hear, see, smell, feel). Raymott, my students' response was about the same as yours. "Now we have a new rule to remember?"
Yes, there's no argument that some verbs are less often used in the continuous tense than other verbs. I'm not used to hearing them called them "non-continuous" verbs though, since they can be used in the continuous tense.
 

Raymott

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"Don't worry. I'm seeing the doctor in the morning." There's nothing even slightly strange about this.
"Your garden is smelling very rosy this summer."
 
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