Sense Verbs

(To Taste, Feel, Smell)



Verbs related to the senses (to taste, feel, and smell) are treated somewhat differently in terms of modifiers. Instead of an adverb, use the equivalent adjective to describe how something tastes, feels, or smells:


–These flowers smell good. (not well)
–I feel bad. (not badly, although you will hear this)
–My salad tastes good. (not well)


NOTE: Adjectives are used because attention is being drawn to the quality of the noun or pronoun subject, not to the verb. If you said She smells well instead of She smells good, you would be emphasizing her ability to smell something, not how she smells.