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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #128044: It seems... (with our five senses!)
    > Other English exercises on the same topics: Making portraits, describing | Idioms | I like, I dislike [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Give your opinion - Describing a face - Describing a picture - Adjectives: where to place them? - Vocabulary: tasting and enjoying - Vocabulary: sight - Vocabulary: room, place or space - Cause and consequence
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    It seems... (with our five senses!)


    Last week, one of you sent me a message asking me to explain a point that she thought was difficult.

     

    It wasn't...  but I then realized that there were a few more explanations to be given... 

     

    TO SEEM: 

    The English verb,  "to seem" is complex and expresses several aspects that, sometimes, it is

    difficult to distinguish;

    The following sentence: The children seemed tired. is only giving very little information about

    my perception of the kids' tiredness and how I could judge that state.  

    If I have reached that conclusion, (They seemed tired), is it because I can see them slouching on

    the couch, motionless? [Here, I'm helped by my sight] Is it because they didn't move when I stroke

    their cheeks very gently?  [Here, I'm helped by my sense of touching] Is it, on the contrary, because

    these noisy kids are now silent and no longer heard at all?     [I'm helped by my sense of hearing].

     

    In English, there are "sense verbs" which are directly applied to our five senses and thus provide 

    additional direct information. 

    to feel (touch)/ to look (sight)/ to smell (smelling)/ to sound (hearing)/ to taste (taste). 

     

    1) These "sense verbs" may be followed by an adjective:

    To feel/ look/ smell/ sound/ taste + adjective. 

     

                                                   

                        That sounds interesting!                                                         ... and this tastes sweet! 

     

    - This news really sounds interesting. (The news has been heard) 

    - This coffee tastes weird. (We have tasted it!) 

    - This cheese smells really bad. (What a terrible smell!)

     

                                   

     

    2) These "sense verbs" may be followed by a noun or a nominal group:

    To feel/ look/ smell/ sound/ taste + like + nominal group. 

     

                                                       

                                                   It tastes like chicken... but is it real chicken? 

     

    - She sounds like her mother. ( she has the same voice as her mother) 

    - This tastes like chicken... (when you eat it!) 

    - This material feels like velvet. (when you touch it!) 

     

                                                                 

                                  

    3) These "sense verbs" may be followed by a clause (verbal group):

    To feel/ look/ smell/ sound/ taste + as if/ as though + clause (verbal group). 

    - You sound as if you've had a bad cold. 

    - It looks as though we'll have to wait for a long time. (the line is really long!)

    - You look as though you've just seen a ghost.

      In American English, you'll keep hearing: 

     You look like you've just seen a ghost. 

    Please, do not imitate in exams (or competitive exams) or in a formal conversation in GB. 

     

                                                   

     

    Without even realizing it, we need to keep our senses alive and alert! 

    Please, keep them alert for the following test,  at least... Keep faith! 

     



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    English exercise "It seems... (with our five senses!)" created by here4u with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from here4u]
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    A. 'I’m not surprised he is after the runs and jumps he has done all day long.'

    B. 'Here’s Theo!… He and .'

    C. 'Oh dear, he , and I find him quite frightening…'

    D. 'You’re hoarse, you throughout the night…'

    E. 'I like this shampoo… it coconut…'

    F. 'When you say such words, you your mother, and I don’t like it…'

    G. 'This chocolate for me… I like it much bitter and strong!'

    H. 'Your little bedroom … You should open the windows…'

    I. 'Go and have a rest… You a sleepless night and would fall asleep in a minute…'

     

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