Lesson 25: Unit 167 - Verbs Of Perception (See, hear, feel, watch, notice, smell)
This lesson covers verbs of perception and the difference between using them with the infinitive without to and with the -ing form, as well as the constructions “stop to do” and “stop doing”.
About this lesson
In this lesson you will learn how to use the verbs of perception see, hear, feel, watch, notice and smell with two different types of verb forms – the infinitive without to and the -ing form. You will understand the difference in meaning: the infinitive expresses a completed, single action, while the -ing form puts the emphasis on the action in progress. In addition, we will look at the important difference between “stop to do something” (to stop in order to do something) and “stop doing something” (to no longer do something). The reading includes an authentic letter from London, full of examples of these constructions in a natural context. By the end of the lesson you will be able to build correct sentences with verbs of perception and choose between the infinitive and the -ing form according to the meaning.
40 minutes
What you'll learn
- Recognise and use the verbs of perception: see, hear, feel, watch, notice, smell.
- Understand the difference between the infinitive without to and the -ing form after verbs of perception.
- Know when the infinitive expresses a completed action and when the -ing form expresses an action in progress.
- Distinguish between 'stop to do something' and 'stop doing something'.
- Recognise these constructions in an authentic text (Frida's letter to Olaf).
- Build correct sentences by combining sentences with a verb of perception and an object.
Lesson vocabulary
- perception Verbs of perception include see, hear, and smell.
- see (saw) I saw him come into the room.
- hear (heard) I heard her sing a song.
- watch We stopped to watch the ducks swimming.
- notice I noticed her open the drawer and take the documents.
- smell I can smell something burning.
- set foot in I'll never forget the day when I first set foot in London.
- take one's breath away The beauty of it all nearly took my breath away.
- chatter I heard them laughing and chattering.
- preach I saw men standing on a platform speaking or preaching.
- admire We stopped to admire the trees.
- slight There was a slight wind that gently moved the leaves on the trees.
- cloudless The sun was bright and the sky was cloudless.
- for the time being I'll stop writing for the time being.
- grasp I heard them laughing and chattering, but I couldn't grasp anything.
In other languages: Български