"Consider"只用現在進行式?

consider 不一定只用現在進行式。

consider 解作「考慮」時才會用現在進行式。

He is considering taking early retirement.
他考慮提早退体。 用現在進行式是正確的，因為是「正在考慮」的意思。
He considers taking early retirement. 不對因為在時態上變成了「慣性考慮」而失了時間性。

更多 is considering 例子：
The committee is considering the feasibility of the proposal.
The government is considering taking more stringent measures on abusing the public health services.


consider 解作「認為」則可用簡單現在式。
e.g.
I consider him as my best friend.
The directors considered the project as being too costly.




2012-02-29 07:49:55 補充：
It goes without saying that you don't use continuous tense for imperative mood or subjunctive mood.

2012-02-29 07:51:28 補充：
It is the mood that determines the choice of tense, and not the verb.

Counter examples:
Please consider a donation.
Please consider another presentation of your question.
If you consider the wider circumstances, you will know it is not the case.

2012-02-29 03:23:47 補充：
If you do not agree to the above, consider searching the net yourself for other examples. :)

2012-02-29 10:47:28 補充：
You are right garlic.