The English Sense Verbs. Worksheets on Vocabulary. Vocabulary Worksheets for ESL. Free eBook and Free printable PDF.
The English Sense Verbs
The English Sense Verbs
A sense verb is a verb that describes one of the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Verbs such as look, seem, taste, feel, smell, and sound are sensory (sense) verbs. In English, it is important to use adjectives rather than adverbs with sense verbs.
- The cookies smelled delicious.
- This fabric feels so good on the skin.
- This fabric drapes so well over my shoulders
When you are describing the manner in which someone senses something, however, you should use an adverb.
- I listened carefully to the instructions.
- I looked surreptitiously at the scar on his face.
Exercises
EXERCISE 1.
Put the appropriate verb in the space: see, hear, feel, smell. Use the correct tense.
e.g. I heard the bomb explode.
- I __________________ the thief enter and leave the house. Â He was wearing a mask.
- I __________________ the girl scream four times before I decided to act.
- There was an awful odour. Â He _______________________ the creature approaching before he actually saw it.
- She could _____________________ another presence watching her but she couldn’t find anyone in the room.
EXERCISE 2.
Match the verb to its meaning.
- 1. to see
- 2. to watch b. to perceive visually
- 3. to notice
- 4. to observe
- a. to pay special attention; to examine or study scientifically
- b. to perceive visually
- c. to look attentively
- d. to pay attention to; to regard