Verbs of the Senses & Clauses of Contrast

Episode #10 of the course English grammar by Kasia Sielicka, PhD

 

We sat down in a café and ordered coffee. It was so good to be with her!

“Mmm . . . this coffee smells so delicious,” I remarked, trying to delay asking the terrible question as long as possible.

“And it tastes good too,” agreed Susan. But it was clear she suspected something. “Look,” she continued, “I’ve agreed to come here, even though you’ve been acting strangely recently. Are you okay?”

She was worried about me! She cares about me! That’s a good sign!

“Well, yes, I’m okay, kind of . . . although I do have something bothering me,” I admitted.

“Well, then, get it off your chest!”

As if it was that easy!

“Okay, I will. Look, despite knowing you for such a short time, I already feel you’re very special,” I said bravely.

“Yes?”

“And I have never met such a smart and charming woman before.”

“And?” It seemed that she was getting impatient.

“And Susan . . . I feel so stupid asking you this question . . . Will you marry me?”

I did it! I popped the question! Finally!

But she . . . she was just sitting there, with eyes wide open. And then she opened her mouth—

END OF SEASON 1

 

Verbs of the Senses

This coffee smells so delicious.

And it tastes good too.

I feel so stupid asking you this.

In these sentences, we have verbs of the senses: smell, taste, feel. Other such verbs include look, taste. They are connected with our five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, and touching. In many languages, after these verbs, we use adverbs (e.g. well, nicely, stupidly). But in English, sometimes we use adjectives: delicious, good, stupid.

More examples:

This soup tastes delicious.

She looks funny.

 

Clauses of Contrast

I’m okay, although I have something bothering me.

I’ve agreed to come here, even though you’ve been acting strangely recently.

Despite knowing you for such a short time, I already feel you’re very special.

In each of these sentences, we show contrast between two ideas. In the first one, John is okay, but there is something bothering him. Instead of “but,” we can use other linkers, such as: even though, although, in spite of, despite.

After even though and although, we use a “clause” (part of a sentence). So:

I’m okay, although I have something bothering me.

I’ve agreed to come here, even though you’ve been acting strangely recently.

After in spite of and despite, we use a noun or a noun phrase (a verb with –ing can also act as a noun!), for instance:

Despite knowing you for such a short time, I already feel you’re very special.

We went for a walk in spite of the rain.

I hope you have enjoyed the first season of “English Grammar.” The second season is under construction, so if you want to know what Susan answered—stay tuned!

In the meantime, do the quiz to check how much you remember from the course.

 

Recommended book

Practice Makes Perfect: English Conversation by Jean Yates

 

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