Verbs of the senses: Look, sound, feel, etc.
Learn how to use look, sound, feel, taste, and smell with adjectives, nouns, and clauses.
- check_circleI can use verbs of the senses with adjectives.
- check_circleI can use verbs of the senses with 'like' + noun.
- check_circleI can use verbs of the senses with 'as if' / 'as though' + clause.
Discover
Meet today's English in a real situation — no rules yet. Read it once and try to guess the pattern in the words in bold. Underlined words open a short definition.
Anna: Hey, try this cake. It looks delicious!
Tom: Hmm… it smells like cinnamon and apples. Did you make it?
Anna: No, I bought it at that new bakery downtown. The place looked like a traditional French patisserie.
Tom: Wow, this tastes amazing. It’s so moist and sweet. It feels like eating a cloud!
Anna: I know! When I walked in, it sounded as if they were busy baking a fresh batch. The chef was very welcoming.
Tom: It sounds like a great place. We should go there together next time. You look as though you could eat another piece!
Anna: Don’t tempt me, I’m already full!
Learn
Now the rules behind what you just saw — explained simply, with examples. Underlined words open a short definition — hover on desktop, tap on a phone.
When we talk about our physical senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell—we often use the verbs look, sound, feel, taste, and smell. These verbs have specific rules depending on what comes after them.
1. Verb of sense + Adjective
We use an adjective (not an adverb) after verbs of the senses to describe a state or quality.
- That soup smells delicious! (NOT smells deliciously)
- You look tired. Have you been sleeping well?
- This sweater feels soft.
Common Mistake Do not use adverbs with these verbs when describing how something is perceived.
The music sounds wonderfully.- The music sounds wonderful.
2. Verb of sense + like + Noun
When we want to compare something to a noun or noun phrase, we add the word like.
- She looks like her mother.
- That sounds like a great idea!
- This fabric feels like silk.
Here is some useful vocabulary for describing textures:
- rough
- smooth
3. Verb of sense + as if / as though + Clause
When a full clause (a subject and a verb) follows the verb of sense, we use as if or as though. In informal spoken English, people sometimes use like instead of as if.
- He looks as if he hasn’t slept in days. (Or: He looks like he hasn’t slept in days.)
- It sounds as though they are having an argument.
Like vs. As if While “like” followed by a clause is very common in informal everyday English (e.g., It looks like it’s going to rain), using as if or as though is grammatically more correct and better for formal writing.
- Verb + Adjective: The food tastes good.
- Verb + like + Noun: She looks like a celebrity.
- Verb + as if / though + Clause: It sounds as if you are busy.
Practice
Try it yourself. You'll see right away whether you got it right, plus a short explanation of why.
Use It
Now make the language yours in a real task. Use the prompt below — the editor keeps a simple word count, and nothing is saved or graded.
Before you finish — be honest. Can you do these now?