Verbs of perception and the senses

VERBS OF PERCEPTION AND SENSES

HEAR, SEE, SMELL, SOUND, FEEL, TASTE

The five basic verbs of the senses are stative (non action)verbs. we normally use can with this verbs to refer to something happening at the moment.e.g. I can smell the cake!

We don't usually use these verbs in the progressive form. Not "I am hearing a noise". "It is tasting nice" hear and see can also be dynamic verbs and used in the progressive form, but with a different meaning: e.g.: 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.

see/hear + infinitive or gerund

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. e.g.: 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. e.g.: I heard the girl playing a piece by Verdi. I saw the man hitting his pet. The same distinction also applies to verbs after watch and notice.

look, feel, smell, sound, taste + adjective/noun

We use them when we talk about the impression someone gives us through the senses. We can use: adjective You look bored. That smells delicious. This music sounds awful. These shoes feel comfortable. The soup tastes a bit spicy. like + a noun e.g.: You look like your brother. It sounds like a bomb. This tastes like cocoa, not coffee. as if/as though + a clause e.g.: She looked as if/as though she had been crying. It sounds as if/as though someone is trying to open the door. Compare smell/taste of and smell/taste like: e.g.: 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).

Seem

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

We use them when we talk about the impression someone gives us through the senses. We can use: adjective You look bored. That smells delicious. This music sounds awful. These shoes feel comfortable. The soup tastes a bit spicy. like + a noun e.g.: You look like your brother. It sounds like a bomb. This tastes like cocoa, not coffee. as if/as though + a clause e.g.: She looked as if/as though she had been crying. It sounds as if/as though someone is trying to open the door. Compare smell/taste of and smell/taste like: e.g.: 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).

Seem

After seem we can use: an adjective e.g.: You seem sad. Is something wrong? an infinitive (simple or perfect or continuous) e.g.: 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 e.g.: 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. seem is not used in the progressive form.