B1+Modals and related verbs

Verbs of the senses

Use look, sound, smell, taste and feel with adjective complements, like + noun, and as if/as though + clause.

Overview

What this grammar does

Use look, sound, smell, taste and feel with adjective complements, like + noun, and as if/as though + clause.

Form and rules

How it works

Sense linking verbs are followed by adjectives, not manner adverbs: It smells wonderful, not wonderfully.

Use look/sound/smell/taste/feel like + noun phrase: It sounds like a good idea.

Use as if/as though + clause when a full subject-verb idea follows: It looks as if it's going to rain.

Feel can describe physical/emotional state or tactile sensation depending on context.

Look at/listen to are action verbs with objects; look/sound as linking verbs describe an impression.

A closer look

Meaning and use

Feel can describe physical/emotional state or tactile sensation depending on context.

Look at/listen to are action verbs with objects; look/sound as linking verbs describe an impression.

Examples

See the pattern in complete sentences

The soup tastes delicious.

That sounds like a sensible plan.

You look tired.

It feels as though the room is moving.

The fabric feels soft.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

This coffee tastes like bitterly.

This coffee tastes bitter.

A sense linking verb takes an adjective complement.

That sounds as a good opportunity.

That sounds like a good opportunity.

Like + noun phrase follows a sense verb.

Ready to practise?

The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.

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