Verbs of Perception
Verbs of Perception refer to those verbs which talk about sensing:
- see/look/watch/notice/observe
- hear/listen to
- taste
- smell
- touch/feel
- sense
These verbs can be used in different ways.
Progressive
Used in the progressive, these verbs indicate the subject is focussing on a particular object:
He is watching television
She's listening to music
He was smelling different perfumes
I am feeling ill.
Object + Infinitive
Some verbs of perception can be used with an object and then the infinitive (without to):
{verb of perception} + {object} + {infinitive}
I watched it explode.
I heard them shout.
Note that we don't use this construction for taste, smell or touch. However, we can use it with feel:
I felt him shudder.
She felt him relax.
