Practice verbs of the senses like look, sound and feel with B1+ level tests and exercises. Improve your English grammar with clear explanations.
Verbs of the Senses: Taste, Look, Smeel Exercises
We use sense verbs to talk about how things look, feel, or seem to us. The verbs that describe the most common senses are look, sound, feel, taste, and smell. These verbs help us talk about how things make us feel instead of what we do.
What Are Verbs of the Senses?
Verbs of sense tell us what we see, hear, feel, taste, or smell. They are usually followed by adjectives instead of adverbs because they describe the subject, not the action.
Example:
The soup tastes delicious.
She looks tired today.
Common Verbs of the Senses
Look
Used to talk about how someone looks.
Example:
You look happy in that photo.
Sound
Used to describe what we hear.
Example:
That idea sounds interesting.
Feel
Used to describe touch or emotions.
Example:
The fabric feels soft.
I feel nervous about the exam.
Taste
Used to describe flavor.
Example:
The cake tastes sweet.
Smell
Used to describe a scent.
Example:
This perfume smells amazing.
Adjectives, Not Adverbs
We usually use adjectives instead of adverbs after verbs of the senses.
Incorrect:
She looks happily.
Correct:
She looks happy.
But we can use adverbs when we care more about the action than the impression.
Example:
She looked carefully at the painting.
Sense Verbs + Like / As if / As though
You can use like, as if, or as though after sense verbs to make comparisons.
Example:
It looks like it is going to rain.
He sounds as if he knows the answer.
Sense Verbs + -ing or Bare Infinitive
With verbs like see, hear, watch, and notice, we can use:
- verb + -ing to say that something is happening right now
- bare infinitive to talk about a whole action
Example:
I saw her crossing the street.
I heard him shout my name.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using adverbs instead of adjectives after verbs of sense.
- Mixing up action verbs and sense verbs.
Example:
The chef tasted the soup carefully. (action)
The soup tastes salty. (sense)
Verbs of the senses help us talk about what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch clearly. They usually come after adjectives and are important for English that sounds natural and descriptive. You will be able to use these verbs correctly and with confidence in both spoken and written English if you practice them in different situations.
