它们都属于表示知觉的连系动词,意思分别是“看起来”、“听起来”、“闻起来”、“尝起来”、“摸起来”。使用时注意以下几点:
(1) 通常以物作主语,表示人的知觉状态或感觉能力,虽有被动词味,但不用被动语态。如:
误:The stone is felt smooth. 这种石头摸上去很光滑。
正:The stone feels smooth.
误:The soup is tasted delicious. 这汤味道不错。
正:The soup tastes delicious.
(2) 其后均可接like短语。如:
That photograph doesn't look like her at all. 那张照片看起来一点都不像她。
This tastes like an orange. 这东西吃起来像桔子。
When I realized what stupid mistake I had made, I felt like a fool. 当我发现我犯了个愚蠢的错误是,我觉得仿佛是个傻子。
(3) 除look外,均不能接 to be,也均不用于进行时态(即使是look也不多见)。如:
She looks (to be) the right person for this job. 她似乎是做这项工作的合适人选。
You look / are looking very fetching in that hat with the purple dress. 你戴上那顶帽子配上这紫色衣服显得非常动人。
(4) taste和smell常与of连用,意为“有┅的味道”。如:
The room smelt of cigarettes. 房间里有烟味。
This soup tastes of chicken. 这汤有鸡的味道。
【注】feel 表示“感觉”可用于进行时。如:
How are you feeling today? 你今天感觉如何?
I'm feeling terrible. 我感到难受极了。
feel还可表示“使人感觉起来…”。如:
It feels cold here. 这儿让人觉得冷。
It feels as if a great weight had been lifted from us. 我们如释重负。