The document discusses verbs related to the five senses - hear, see, smell, feel, and taste. It explains that these verbs are stative and usually used with "can" to refer to present sensations. Exceptions are when hear and see are used dynamically to mean "receive information" or "arrange to meet". The document also discusses using these sense verbs with objects and infinitives/gerunds, and how look, feel, smell, sound and taste are used with adjectives/nouns or clauses to describe impressions. Finally, it explains that "seem" is used to describe impressions from a combination of senses rather than a single sense.

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.
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.
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

2. Verbs of the senses
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.
The same distinction also applies to verbs after watch and notice.
see/hear + infinitive or gerund
Adapted from New English File Advanced. OUP

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:
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.
look, feel, smell, sound, taste + adjective/noun
Adapted from New English File Advanced. OUP

4. Verbs of the senses
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.
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

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. 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.
seem is not used in the progressive form.
Verbs of the senses
seem
Adapted from New English File Advanced. OUP

7. 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.
seem is not used in the progressive form.
Verbs of the senses
seem
Adapted from New English File Advanced. OUP