State Verbs and Present Tenses

• Use the present simple for habits and facts, and the present continuous for actions happening now. State verbs describe states, not actions, and are almost never used in the continuous form.
• Verb Type
• Function
• Example Sentence
• Action (Present Continuous)
• Happening right now
• Mark is dispatching a truck to Chicago.
• Action (Present Simple)
• Regular routine or fact
• We run freight from Atlanta to Dallas daily.
• State Verb
• Describes feelings, possession, or thoughts
• I know that trailer belongs to Hoosier Express.
• Remember
• Do not use state verbs (like know, belong, seem, need) in the continuous form (-ing).
• Use the present simple for permanent situations and company rules.
• Use the present continuous for temporary actions happening at the moment of speaking.
• State verbs express mental states, possession, or perception.
• Examples
• David needs twenty power units for the lane.
• This trailer belongs to our Chicago terminal.
• She is checking the capacity planning right now.
• They know the shipping manager in Indianapolis.
• Common mistakes
• I am needing a truck in Louisville.
• I need a truck in Louisville.
• This fleet is belonging to our company.
• This fleet belongs to our company.

Complete the sentences

• Right now, Sarah (dispatch) ____ three trucks to Cincinnati.
• Our team (need) ____ more trailers for this dedicated customer.
• Mark (know) ____ the owner of the brokerage in Chicago.
• Listen! The dispatcher (talk) ____ to a driver about spot freight.
• That big tractor-trailer (belong) ____ to an asset-based carrier in Detroit.
• Why (you / run) ____ that lane today?

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