Verbs & Present Tense Conjugation

Aspect nuance: I think vs I'm thinking

I think (opinion) vs I'm thinking (active process); I see (understand) vs I'm seeing

BrE vs AmE: present perfect vs past simple

BrE: "I've just eaten" / AmE: "I just ate" — Americans use past simple more freely

Stative verbs in continuous: change of meaning

"I'm thinking about it" (process) vs "I think it's true" (opinion) — meaning changes

Dynamic vs stative use of same verb

"He's being difficult" (behaving) vs "He is difficult" (characteristic)

were for all persons in conditionals

If I were you / If she were here / If it were possible — formal/written English

Subjunctive mood in formal English

I suggest that he leave (not "leaves") / It is essential that she be present

Performative verbs

I promise, I declare, I apologize, I insist — saying the verb = performing the action

Lexical aspect: achievements vs activities

Achievement: arrive, notice, find (instantaneous) / Activity: run, study, wait (duration)

Future in the past: was going to / would

She was going to call but forgot / He said he would come — past perspective

Habitual past nuance: used to vs would

Both can express past habits; but "used to" handles states; "would" only actions