Activating the Five Physical Senses
6.4 👃 Activating the Five Physical Senses
Verbs associated with the five physical senses (look, sound, smell, taste, feel) frequently function as sensory linking verbs.
📊 Sensory Linking Matrix
| Sense Category | Linking Verb | Subject | Sensory Attribute | Complete Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sight | look | The design | looks professional | The design looks professional. |
| Sound | sound | Your proposal | sounds convincing | Your proposal sounds convincing. |
| Smell | smell | The coffee | smells fresh | The coffee smells fresh. |
| Taste | taste | The food | tastes salty | The food tastes salty. |
| Touch/Feeling | feel | The surface | feels smooth | The surface feels smooth. |
📝 Real-World Examples Explained
1. Sensory Attribute Linking
“The new office chair feels comfortable.”
- feels: Links the object (chair) to the physical feeling (comfortable).
2. Auditory Attribute Linking
“His speech sounded inspiring to the whole team.”
- sounded: Connects his speech to the perception inspiring.
🚫 Common Mistakes: Correct vs. Incorrect
1. Using Adverbs to Describe Sensory Perception
❌ Incorrect: “The freshly baked bread smells deliciously.”
✅ Correct: “The freshly baked bread smells delicious.”
Why it’s wrong: When sensory verbs act as linking verbs, they must be followed by adjectives (delicious), not adverbs (deliciously).
✏️ Quick Quiz: Fix the Sensory Link!
Choose the correct word:
“The team’s presentation sounded very (impressive / impressively).”
🔑 Quiz Answers
impressive (an adjective is required after the sensory linking verb sounded).