S
COTT
: OK, OK. Well . . . we could go to Maria’s party.
J
USTINE
: That’s fine, but only if you promise to be nice to her.
S
COTT
: I’ll try, but it’s very difficult. I just can’t help laughing
at her pictures.
J
USTINE
: You’ll have to avoid looking at them, or pretend to
like them. If you can’t manage to do either of those,
then I’m not coming.
S
COTT
: You’re really putting me off going now, Justine.
J
USTINE
: OK, what else could we do?
S
COTT
: Well, why don’t we just decide to stay in? I don’t mind
ordering a pizza for us. Besides, Maria’s parties are
usually pretty useless, aren’t they?
J
USTINE
: True.
Language point 49 – more about state
verbs

over in your mind
(state) look = have appearance
(action) look = use your eyes to see
(state) see = understand
(action) see = visit
So when Sarah says:
She’s seeing him later on
she’s using the action meaning of see (‘visit’), and so the present
continuous is correct.
Here are other examples using the verbs above:
Adrian has
a yellow car (possess)
Adrian’s having
eggs for lunch (eat food)
I think
this book’s wonderful (opinion)
Be quiet – I’m thinking
(think about something)
Candace looks
cross (has appearance)
Candace is looking
at her desk (use eyes to see)
Exercise 4
Decide between the two choices in the brackets – you will have to
consider whether the verb is used in its action meaning or its state
meaning.
1 I (’m thinking/think) hard about that question.
2 (Are we having/Do we have) eggs for breakfast this morning?
3 You (look/’re looking) very like your sister.
4 Tom (thinks/’s thinking) Indian food’s good for you.

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32
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34
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36
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40
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5 What’s that book you (look/’re looking) at?
6 I (don’t see/’m not seeing) what he means.
7 Simon (has/’s having) a second-hand Ferrari.
8 Dave (doesn’t see/isn’t seeing) his girlfriend this weekend.
Language point 50 – -ing and to-forms
after verbs
In colloquial English there are different ways of joining two verbs
together. In Dialogue 5 Scott says:
I can’t wait to
see the new Johnny Depp film
but I can’t help laughing at her pictures
Some verbs are followed by the
TO
-
FORM
of the second verb, while
others are followed by the

learners’ dictionary of English. Decide whether to use the
TO
-
FORM
or the
ING
-
FORM
in the following sentences. The first one has been
done for you.
1 I can’t wait (see) the new film.
I can’t wait to see the new film.
2 Don’t forget (order) the tickets.
__________________________ .
3 She promises (come) back later.
__________________________ .
4 The government is offering (help) with the costs.
__________________________ .
5 I always enjoy (have) dinner with Julie.
__________________________ .
6 Remember (lock) the door.
__________________________ .
7 Suzie hates (do) the shopping.
__________________________ .
8 We’re going (swim) this afternoon.
__________________________ .
9 I don’t want (offend) him.
__________________________ .
10 Why don’t you give up (smoke)?
__________________________ ?

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26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
4211
127
14 Do you fancy (learn) yoga?
__________________________ ?
15 You don’t happen (know) where he is, do you?
__________________________ ?
16 Dave doesn’t really like (cook).
__________________________ .
17 I’d better pretend (be) ill.
__________________________ .
18 James needs (fly) to Australia next week.
__________________________ .
19 We hope (see) you all again soon.