A presentation for B2 ESL learners about some differences as regards verbs of the senses.

1. Verbs of the senses I can hear a noise upsstairs. Can you see the red circle at the bottom of the painting? I can smell burning. Are you sure you turned the gas off? I can feel a draught. Is there a window open? I can’t taste the basil in the soup. The five basic verbs of the senses, hear , see , smell , feel , and taste are stative (non action) verbs. We normally use can with these verbs to refer to something happening at the moment. hear and see can also be dynamic verbs and used in the progressive form, but with a different meaning: I’ve been hearing good things about you recently. = I have been receiving information. I’m seeing James tonight. = I have arranged to meet him. hear, see, smell, feel, taste Adapted from New English File Advanced. OUP We don’t usually use verbs of the senses in the progressive form. NOT I am hearing a noise. I’m feeling a pain behind my eye.

2. Verbs of the senses The same distinction also applies to verbs after watch and notice . see/hear + infinitive or gerund Adapted from New English File Advanced. OUP We often use see / hear + an object + verb in the infinitive or gerund. The meaning is slightly different: see / hear + object + verb in infinitive = you saw or heard the whole action. I heard the girl play a piece by Verdi. I saw the man hit his pet. see / hear + object + verb in gerund = you saw/heard an action in progress or a repeated action. I heard the girl playing a piece by Verdi. I saw the man hitting his pet.

3. Verbs of the senses When we talk about the impression something or someone gives us through the senses, we use look , feel , smell , sound , and taste . After these verbs we can use: look, feel, smell, sound, taste + adjective/noun Adapted from New English File Advanced. OUP an adjective You look bored. That smells delicious. This music sounds awful. These shoes feel comfortable. The soup tastes a bit spicy. like + a noun You look like your brother. It sounds like a bomb. This tastes like cocoa, not coffee.

4. Verbs of the senses Compare smell / taste of and smell / taste like : It tastes / smells of basil (= it has the taste/smell of basil). It tastes / smells like basil (= it has a similar taste/smell to basil, but it probably isn’t basil). When we talk about the impression something or someone gives us through the senses, we use look , feel , smell , sound , and taste . After these verbs we can use: look, feel, smell, sound, taste + adjective/noun Adapted from New English File Advanced. OUP as if / as though + a clause She looked as if / as though she had been crying. It sounds as if / as though someone is trying to open the door.

5. Verbs of the senses We use seem when something/somebody gives us an impression of being or doing something through a combination of the senses and what we know, but not purely through one sense, e.g. the visual sense. Compare seem and look : You look tired = I get this impression from your face. You seem sad . = I get this impression from the way you are behaving in general, e.g. voice, actions, etc. seem Adapted from New English File Advanced. OUP

6. seem is not used in the progressive form. Verbs of the senses seem Adapted from New English File Advanced. OUP After seem we can use: an adjective You seem sad. Is something wrong? an infinitive (simple or perfect or continuous) You seem to be a bit worried today. Are you OK? The waiter seems to have made a mistake with the order. like + noun or as if / as though + a verb phrase It seemed like a good idea at the time, but in fact it wasn’t. It seems as if / as though every time I clean the windows it rains.