State Verbs: Simple Form Only
Practice the rule that state verbs — know, like, own, believe — never take the present perfect continuous, even with 'for', 'since', 'how long', or 'always'.
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I ___ him since we were children.
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've known
'Know' is a state verb — use present perfect simple, not continuous.
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Have you always ___ a car?
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owned
'Own' is a state verb — use present perfect simple, even with 'always'.
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I hate cabbage. I ___ liked it.
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've never
'Like' is a state verb — 'have never liked', not the continuous.
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Harry's an old friend of mine. I ___ him since we were kids.
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've known
'Know' is a state verb — present perfect simple, not continuous.
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I hate cabbage. I ___ it.
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've never liked
'Like' is a state verb — present perfect simple, not continuous.
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How long ___ Mark?
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have you known
'Know' is a state verb — present perfect simple, not continuous.
State Verbs and the Present Perfect: Why the Continuous Never Applies
A specific group of verbs — know, like, own, believe, and similar verbs describing mental states, feelings, or possession rather than deliberate actions — are systematically excluded from the continuous form across every tense in English, including the present perfect. This matters more in the present perfect than almost anywhere else, because duration expressions like 'for', 'since', and 'how long' normally push learners strongly toward the continuous form — and with an ordinary action verb, they would be right to choose it. With a state verb, however, the simple form is required regardless of how long the situation has lasted, which makes this one of the most counter-intuitive rules in the present perfect system.
State Verbs Stay Simple, Even with Duration Expressions
Even when a sentence describes a state lasting years, and even when it's introduced by 'how long' or 'since' — both classic continuous signals — a state verb keeps the present perfect simple form.
How long have you known Mark? ('how long' + state verb — still simple)
Harry's an old friend of mine. I've known him since we were kids. (state verb — simple)
State Verbs Stay Simple Even with 'Always'
'Always' often pairs naturally with the continuous for ordinary action verbs describing a repeated habit, but with a state verb it still requires the simple form, because the underlying verb itself cannot take -ing.
I hate cabbage. I've never liked it. (state verb — simple, even with 'never')
Recognising State Verbs
The most common state verbs tested in this pattern describe knowledge (know), preference (like, love, hate), possession (own, have — in the sense of possessing), and belief (believe, understand). If a verb describes a fact about the mind or a permanent relationship rather than a deliberate, ongoing action with visible duration, it very likely belongs to this group and should stay in the simple form throughout the present perfect.
Have you always owned a car?
I've never liked cabbage.
Common Mistakes
✗ Have you always been owning a car? → ✓ Have you always owned a car? (state verb, even with 'always')
✗ How long have you been knowing Mark? → ✓ How long have you known Mark? (state verb, even with 'how long')
✗ I've never been liking cabbage. → ✓ I've never liked cabbage. (state verb — simple)
Last updated: · Satori Editorial