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smell

British and American forms​

In British English, regular and irregular past tenses and participles are both common: smelled and smelt. American forms are usually regular.

Linking verb​

Smell can be used as a linking verb (see here), followed by an adjective or noun, to say how something smells. Progressive forms are not used.

  • Those roses smell beautiful. (not … smell beautifully.)
  • The soup smells funny. What’s in it? (not … is smelling funny …)

Before a noun, smell of and smell like are used.

  • The railway carriage smelt of beer and old socks.
  • His aftershave smelt like an explosion in a flower shop.

Smell is sometimes used to mean ‘smell bad’.

  • That dog smells.

Transitive verb: ‘perceive’​

Smell can be used with an object, to say what we perceive with our noses. Progressive forms are not used. We often use can smell (see here).

  • As we walked into the house, we smelt something burning.
  • I can smell supper.

Transitive verb: ‘investigate’​

Another transitive use is to say that we are using our noses to find out something. Progressive forms can be used.

  • ‘What are you doing?’ ‘I’m smelling the meat to see if it’s still OK.’