Mastering the Past Tense of Sense Verbs in English Grammar

by

Have you ever wondered how to correctly describe what you saw, heard, felt, or noticed in the past? Sense verbs—like see, hear, feel, and more—are fundamental to storytelling, conversations, and vivid descriptions. Using their past tense forms accurately is essential for clear, natural English. Whether you’re an ESL/EFL student, a teacher guiding learners, a writer polishing a narrative, or an advanced speaker aiming for precision, mastering the past tense of sense verbs will dramatically improve your communication skills.

This comprehensive guide will help you understand what sense verbs are, how to form and use their past tenses, the differences between forms like saw and was seeing, subtle nuances, common mistakes, and much more. With detailed explanations, rich examples, tables, practice exercises, and advanced insights, you’ll gain the confidence to use sense verbs effortlessly in the past tense.

Table of Contents

3. DEFINITION SECTION

3.1. What Are Sense Verbs?

Sense verbs (also called perception verbs) describe experiences through the five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch—as well as mental noticing. They allow us to communicate what we perceive or observe.

SENSE SENSE VERBS Present Simple Example
Sight see, watch, notice, observe I see a bird.
Hearing hear, listen She hears music.
Smell smell It smells delicious.
Taste taste The soup tastes salty.
Touch/Feel feel I feel the soft fabric.
Noticing notice, observe They notice the mistake.

Some verbs like watch, listen, and observe often imply intentional focus, while others like see and hear can also be accidental or passive perceptions.

3.2. What Is the Past Tense of Sense Verbs?

The past tense of sense verbs shows that the perception occurred at a specific point or period in the past. The most common form is the simple past—for example, saw, heard, felt, noticed.

Some sense verbs are irregular in the past tense (see → saw, hear → heard, feel → felt), while others are regular (observe → observed, listen → listened, taste → tasted).

We also use past continuous (was/were + -ing, e.g., was hearing, was watching) to focus on ongoing perceptions in the past, and past perfect (had + past participle, e.g., had seen, had heard) to show a perception that happened before another past action.

Sense verbs can be dynamic (describing active perception or sensing) or sometimes stative (describing states or feelings, like I felt sad).

3.3. Functions and Usage Contexts

We use past tense sense verbs to:

  • Indicate completed perceptions or events: I heard a knock on the door.
  • Set scenes in narratives: As I walked in, I smelled fresh bread.
  • Describe background sensory information: They were watching the sunset.
  • Report past experiences or discoveries: She noticed the error after she submitted the form.
  • Use in reported speech: He said he heard strange noises.

4. STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN

4.1. Regular Past Tense Formation of Sense Verbs

English verbs form the past tense in two main ways:

  • Regular verbs add -ed: notice → noticed, observe → observed.
  • Irregular verbs change form unpredictably: see → saw, hear → heard, feel → felt.
Verb Present Simple Past Past Participle
see see saw seen
hear hear heard heard
feel feel felt felt
smell smell smelled / smelt smelled / smelt
taste taste tasted tasted
notice notice noticed noticed
observe observe observed observed
watch watch watched watched
listen listen listened listened

Table 1: Present and Past Forms of Common Sense Verbs

4.2. Past Continuous with Sense Verbs

The past continuous tense uses was/were + verb-ing to show ongoing or background perception in the past.

Examples:

  • I was hearing strange noises all night. (ongoing perception)
  • They were watching the game when it started to rain.
  • She was listening to music while studying.

Simple past indicates a completed perception:

  • I heard a strange noise. (specific moment)
  • They watched the game. (completed event)

4.3. Past Perfect with Sense Verbs

The past perfect tense (had + past participle) shows a perception that happened before another action in the past.

Examples:

  • I had seen that movie before they recommended it.
  • She had heard the news before I called.
  • They had noticed the error before submitting the report.

4.4. Bare Infinitive vs. Gerund after Sense Verbs in the Past

Sence verbs are often followed by an object and:

  • Bare infinitive (base form without to): saw him leave
  • -ing form (gerund): saw him leaving

Meaning difference:

  • Bare infinitive: the entire action was perceived from start to finish.
  • -ing form: the action was ongoing or in progress when perceived.
Pattern Example Meaning
Simple Past + object + bare infinitive I saw him cross the street. I saw the whole action.
Simple Past + object + -ing (gerund) I saw him crossing the street. I saw him during the action, not from start to finish.

Table 2: Bare Infinitive vs. Gerund with Past Tense Sense Verbs

4.5. Passive Voice with Past Tense Sense Verbs

In passive voice, the focus is on the person or thing perceived.

Common passive patterns:

  • Subject + was/were + past participle + (to) + base verb
  • He was seen leave the building.
  • The thief was seen running away.

Examples:

  • She was heard singing in the choir.
  • The car was seen speeding down the road.
  • He was noticed entering the office late.

5. TYPES OR CATEGORIES

5.1. Five Senses Categories

Sense Verbs Past Tense Forms Sample Sentence
Sight see, watch, notice, observe saw, watched, noticed, observed I saw a shooting star.
Hearing hear, listen heard, listened We heard thunder last night.
Smell smell smelled / smelt She smelled fresh coffee.
Taste taste tasted He tasted the spicy sauce.
Touch feel felt I felt the cold breeze.

Table 3: Sense Verbs with Past Tense and Examples

5.2. Direct Perception vs. Indirect Perception

  • Direct perception: The speaker personally experienced the sensory input.
  • I saw the accident happen.
  • Indirect perception: The speaker inferred or noticed evidence.
  • I saw that he was upset.

More examples:

  • Direct: She heard the baby cry.
  • Indirect: She heard that the baby was sick.

5.3. Dynamic vs. Stative Usage in Past Tense

Some sense verbs can be:

  • Dynamic verbs (actions or processes): I felt the fabric.
  • Stative verbs (states or feelings): I felt tired.

More examples:

  • Dynamic: He tasted the soup.
  • Stative: The soup tasted delicious.
  • Dynamic: I smelled the flowers.
  • Stative: The flowers smelled sweet.

6. EXAMPLES SECTION

6.1. Basic Examples of Past Tense Sense Verbs

  1. I heard a loud bang.
  2. She saw a beautiful rainbow.
  3. They felt the warm sun.
  4. We smelled fresh bread baking.
  5. He tasted the spicy curry.
  6. I noticed a mistake in the report.
  7. She watched the children play.
  8. They listened to the new album.
  9. He observed the stars through a telescope.
  10. We saw a movie last night.

6.2. Intermediate Examples with Objects and Complements

  • They noticed the door was open.
  • He tasted the soup carefully before serving it.
  • We heard someone knocking at the window.
  • I saw her crying in the hallway.
  • She watched the birds build their nest.
  • They listened attentively to the lecture.
  • He observed that the patient’s condition improved.
  • She felt something crawling on her arm.
  • I smelled smoke coming from the kitchen.
  • We heard that the concert was canceled.

6.3. Complex Examples with Clauses and Passive Voice

  • The thief was seen climbing over the fence.
  • I had heard that the concert was canceled.
  • She was noticed leaving the building late at night.
  • He had seen the painting before it was sold.
  • The children were heard laughing in the playground.
  • They were observed cheating during the exam.
  • I saw that he was upset after the meeting.
  • She had heard the news before anyone else.
  • The man was seen running away from the scene.
  • We had noticed the error before submitting the report.

6.4. Examples Contrasting Gerund and Bare Infinitive Patterns

# Bare Infinitive -ing Form Explanation
1 I saw him cross the street. I saw him crossing the street. Whole action vs. in progress
2 She heard the baby cry. She heard the baby crying. Complete crying vs. during crying
3 We watched the plane take off. We watched the plane taking off. Whole takeoff vs. during takeoff
4 They noticed him sneak out. They noticed him sneaking out. Whole action vs. in progress
5 I heard her sing a song. I heard her singing a song. Complete song vs. during singing
6 He saw the dog run away. He saw the dog running away. Whole escape vs. in progress
7 She watched him leave the room. She watched him leaving the room. Whole action vs. during leaving
8 I heard them argue. I heard them arguing. Complete argument vs. ongoing
9 They saw the fire spread. They saw the fire spreading. Whole spread vs. while spreading
10 We noticed the car stop. We noticed the car stopping. Complete stop vs. during stopping

Table 4: Contrasting Bare Infinitive and -ing Forms

6.5. Narrative Paragraphs Using Past Tense Sense Verbs

Paragraph 1:

As I walked through the forest, I heard birds singing and the rustle of leaves under my feet. Suddenly, I saw a deer cross the path, and I watched it disappear among the trees. I felt the cool breeze on my face and smelled the fresh scent of pine. It was a peaceful moment I will never forget.

Paragraph 2:

During the concert, we heard the crowd cheering loudly. I noticed the singer was wearing a sparkling jacket, and my friend observed the guitarist’s intense focus. We watched them perform their hit song, and everyone felt the energy in the room. Afterward, we tasted some delicious street food outside the venue.

6.6. Additional Categorized Examples by Verb

  • See: I saw lightning in the sky. / We saw her dancing. / He was seen entering the building.
  • Hear: I heard a strange noise. / They heard the baby crying. / She had heard the news.
  • Feel: I felt a sharp pain. / He felt embarrassed. / We felt the ground shaking.
  • Smell: She smelled smoke. / I smelled fresh flowers. / The perfume smelled sweet.
  • Taste: He tasted the soup. / The cake tasted delicious. / She tasted the spicy sauce.
  • Notice: I noticed he was upset. / They noticed the broken window. / We had noticed a mistake.
  • Observe: She observed the students working. / We observed the stars. / They were observed cheating.
  • Watch: We watched the sunset. / She watched the kids playing. / They were watching TV.
  • Listen: I listened to the lecture. / He listened carefully. / They were listening to music.

7. USAGE RULES

7.1. Choosing Between Simple Past and Past Continuous

Simple past is used for completed perceptions:

  • I heard a crash.
  • She saw the fireworks.

Past continuous emphasizes ongoing or background perception:

  • I was hearing strange noises all night.
  • They were watching the parade when it started to rain.

Practice:

  • I ___ (hear) a strange sound when the lights went out. → heard
  • We ___ (watch) TV when the power cut off. → were watching

7.2. Using Bare Infinitive vs. -ing After Sense Verbs in Past Tense

Remember:

  • Bare infinitive: whole action perceived
  • -ing form: action in progress perceived

Examples:

  • I saw him cross the finish line. (whole action)
  • I saw him crossing the finish line. (during the action)
  • She heard them argue. (entire argument)
  • She heard them arguing. (ongoing argument)

7.3. Passive Constructions with Sense Verbs in Past

Common pattern:

  • Subject + was/were + past participle + (to) + base verb/-ing

Examples:

  • The man was seen running away.
  • The children were heard singing.
  • He was noticed leaving early.

7.4. Sequence of Events with Past Perfect

Use past perfect to show a perception happened before another past event.

Example:

  • I had seen him before I left the party.
  • She had heard the news when I called.

7.5. Reporting Perceptions in Past Reported Speech

In reported speech, sense verbs often shift back one tense.

Direct speech: She said, “I hear a noise.”

Reported speech: She said she heard a noise.

Other examples:

  • He said, “I see John.” → He said he saw John.
  • They said, “We feel tired.” → They said they felt tired.

7.6. Common Exceptions and Variations

  • Irregular past forms: smelled (US) or smelt (UK).
  • Regional: UK English prefers smelt, learnt; US uses smelled, learned.
  • Informal speech: Phrases like I was seeing someone (dating) use continuous form differently.

8. COMMON MISTAKES

8.1. Incorrect Verb Forms

  • *He seed the accident.* → Correct: He saw the accident.
  • *I heared the song.* → Correct: I heard the song.
  • *She feeled nervous.* → Correct: She felt nervous.

8.2. Confusing Bare Infinitive and Gerund After Sense Verbs

  • *I saw him to leave.* → Correct: I saw him leave.
  • *She heard them to sing.* → Correct: She heard them sing.

8.3. Misuse of Tenses with Sense Verbs

  • *I was hear music.* → Correct: I was hearing music or I heard music.
  • *They was see the parade.* → Correct: They saw the parade.

8.4. Omitting or Misplacing Objects

  • *I saw leave.* → Correct: I saw him leave.
  • *She heard sing.* → Correct: She heard her sing.

8.5. Overusing Past Continuous When Simple Past Suffices

  • *I was seeing the movie yesterday.* → Correct: I saw the movie yesterday.
  • *They were hearing a loud noise last night.* → Correct: They heard a loud noise last night.

8.6. Summary Table of Common Mistakes and Corrections

Incorrect Explanation Correct
He seed the dog. seed is not a past form He saw the dog.
I heared the news. heard is irregular I heard the news.
I saw him to leave. Wrong verb pattern I saw him leave.
She was see the fireworks. Wrong continuous form She saw the fireworks.
I saw leave. Missing object I saw him leave.
I was seeing the movie. Continuous tense unnecessary I saw the movie.

9. PRACTICE EXERCISES

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank (Use correct past tense form)

  1. Yesterday, I ___ (hear) a strange sound outside.
  2. We ___ (see) a shooting star last night.
  3. She ___ (notice) the mistake before sending the email.
  4. They ___ (watch) the entire football match.
  5. He ___ (feel) something on his shoulder.
  6. I ___ (smell) fresh coffee in the morning.
  7. She ___ (taste) the soup before serving it.
  8. We ___ (observe) the birds building a nest.
  9. They ___ (listen) to the announcement carefully.
  10. He ___ (hear) that the store was closing early.
  11. I ___ (see) him cross the road.
  12. She ___ (hear) the children playing outside.
  13. We ___ (notice) that the lights were on.
  14. They ___ (feel) happy after the news.
  15. He ___ (watch) the sunset from the hill.
  16. I ___ (smell) smoke from the kitchen.
  17. She ___ (taste) the cake and loved it.
  18. They ___ (observe) strange behavior from the animal.
  19. We ___ (listen) to the rain falling on the roof.
  20. He ___ (hear) someone call his name.

9.2. Sentence Correction

Correct the mistakes.

  1. She was see the fireworks.
  2. I heared a loud crash.
  3. They was watching the movie last night.
  4. I saw him to leave the room.
  5. He feeled cold.
  6. We was hear loud music.
  7. She seed the accident happen.
  8. I noticed he leave early.
  9. They was listen to the speech.
  10. We was observe the stars.
  11. I heared them singing.
  12. She was smelling the flowers.
  13. They watched him to run away.
  14. He was see the car crash.
  15. We feeled excited about the trip.

9.3. Identify the Pattern

Indicate if the underlined verb phrase is Simple Past, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, or Passive.

  1. The man was seen running away.
  2. She heard the news yesterday.
  3. They were watching TV when the lights went out.
  4. I had noticed the error before.
  5. The children were heard singing.
  6. We saw the fireworks last night.
  7. He was listening to music when I called.
  8. She had heard the story before.
  9. They were observed cheating.
  10. I heard someone knocking.

9.4. Construct Sentences

Use the prompts to write correct past tense sentences.

  1. you / hear / the thunderstorm
  2. they / see / the sunrise
  3. she / notice / the broken window
  4. I / taste / the spicy food
  5. we / watch / the parade
  6. he / feel / a sharp pain
  7. they / listen / to the teacher
  8. she / smell / fresh flowers
  9. we / observe / the experiment
  10. he / hear / the announcement

9.5. Bare Infinitive vs. Gerund Practice

Choose the correct form.

  1. I saw her ___ (dance / dancing) on stage.
  2. We heard the dog ___ (bark / barking) loudly.
  3. She watched him ___ (run / running) away.
  4. They noticed the car ___ (stop / stopping).
  5. He saw the kids ___ (play / playing) in the park.
  6. She heard the phone ___ (ring / ringing).
  7. We saw the plane ___ (land / landing).
  8. I heard them ___ (argue / arguing).
  9. They watched the sun ___ (set / setting).
  10. He noticed someone ___ (leave / leaving) the room.

9.6. Answer Key for All Exercises

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank Answers

  1. heard
  2. saw
  3. noticed
  4. watched
  5. felt
  6. smelled
  7. tasted
  8. observed
  9. listened
  10. heard
  11. saw
  12. heard
  13. noticed
  14. felt
  15. watched
  16. smelled
  17. tasted
  18. observed
  19. listened
  20. heard

9.2. Sentence Correction Answers

  1. She saw the fireworks.
  2. I heard a loud crash.
  3. They were watching the movie last night.
  4. I saw him leave the room.
  5. He felt cold.
  6. We heard loud music.
  7. She saw the accident happen.
  8. I noticed him leave early.
  9. They were listening to the speech.
  10. We were observing the stars.
  11. I heard them singing.
  12. She smelled the flowers.
  13. They watched him run away.
  14. He saw the car crash.
  15. We felt excited about the trip.

9.3. Identify the Pattern

  1. Passive
  2. Simple Past
  3. Past Continuous
  4. Past Perfect
  5. Passive
  6. Simple Past
  7. Past Continuous
  8. Past Perfect
  9. Passive
  10. Simple Past

9.4. Construct Sentences

  1. You heard the thunderstorm.
  2. They saw the sunrise.
  3. She noticed the broken window.
  4. I tasted the spicy food.
  5. We watched the parade.
  6. He felt a sharp pain.
  7. They listened to the teacher.
  8. She smelled fresh flowers.
  9. We observed the experiment.
  10. He heard the announcement.

9.5. Bare Infinitive vs. Gerund

  1. dancing
  2. barking
  3. run
  4. stop
  5. playing
  6. ringing
  7. land
  8. arguing
  9. setting
  10. leaving

10. ADVANCED TOPICS

10.1. Subtle Differences in Meaning: Bare Infinitive vs. Gerund After Past Sense Verbs

  • I saw him leave. → The entire action of leaving was perceived from beginning to end.
  • I saw him leaving. → I saw him in the middle of the action, not necessarily from start to finish.
  • She heard the baby cry. → The baby made a full crying sound.
  • She heard the baby crying. → The baby was in the process of crying when she perceived it.

10.2. Sense Verbs in Complex Sentences and Embedded Clauses

Sense verbs often introduce subordinate clauses describing indirect perception:

  • I saw that he was upset.
  • She heard that the concert was canceled.
  • They noticed that the door was open.

10.3. Combining Multiple Senses in Past Narratives

Using several sense verbs enriches storytelling:

Example:

As I entered the kitchen, I smelled fresh bread, heard the radio playing softly, and felt the warm sunlight on my face. I saw my mother watching the oven carefully while my sister tasted the icing.

10.4. Idiomatic Expressions Using Past Tense of Sense Verbs

  • I heard it through the grapevine. (I learned via rumors.)
  • I saw red. (I became very angry.)
  • It felt like ages. (It seemed to take a long time.)
  • She smelled a rat. (She suspected something was wrong.)
  • He tasted victory. (He experienced success.)

10.5. Register and Formality

  • In formal writing: prefer past simple or past perfect (e.g., She had heard that…)
  • In informal speech: contractions and continuous forms common (e.g., I was hearing weird sounds)

10.6. Regional Variations and Historical Usage

  • British English prefers smelt, learnt, dreamt.
  • American English prefers smelled, learned, dreamed.
  • Both are correct; choose based on your audience.
  • Historically, see had the archaic past tense saw, which remains, but forms like seed are incorrect.

11. FAQ SECTION

1. What are the most common past tense forms of sense verbs?

They include saw, heard, felt, smelled/smelt, tasted, noticed, observed, watched, listened.

2. When should I use the bare infinitive vs. the -ing form after a past tense sense verb?

Use the bare infinitive to indicate the entire action was perceived. Use the -ing form to focus on the action in progress during perception.

3. Can sense verbs be used in the past continuous tense?

Yes, to emphasize ongoing or background perceptions (e.g., I was hearing strange noises).

4. How do I form passive sentences with sense verbs in the past tense?

Use was/were + past participle + (to) + base verb, e.g., The man was seen running away.

5. What’s the difference between ‘heard’ and ‘was hearing’?

Heard implies a completed perception. Was hearing indicates an ongoing perception over time.

6. Is ‘smelled’ or ‘smelt’ correct in the past tense?

Both are correct. ‘Smelled’ is more common in US English; ‘smelt’ in UK English.

7. Are there any irregular past tense forms among sense verbs?

Yes: see → saw, hear → heard, feel → felt.

8. How can I avoid common mistakes with past tense sense verbs?

Learn irregular forms, use correct verb patterns, avoid unnecessary continuous tenses, and always include objects when needed.

9. Can I use sense verbs in the past perfect tense?

Yes, to show perceptions before another past event (e.g., I had seen him before I left.)

10. What is the difference in meaning between ‘I saw him leave’ and ‘I saw him leaving’?

‘Leave’ = entire action seen. ‘Leaving’ = action in progress when seen.

11. Are sense verbs considered stative or action verbs in past tense?

They can be both. Dynamic when describing active perception (I felt the fabric), stative when describing states or conditions (I felt sad).

12. How do sense verbs work in reported speech in the past?

The tense usually shifts back one tense (backshifting). She said, “I hear…” → She said she heard…

12. CONCLUSION

Mastering the past tense of sense verbs is essential for clear, vivid communication in English. Remember to:

  • Use correct irregular and regular past forms.
  • Choose appropriate tense/aspect (simple, continuous, perfect) based on timing and emphasis.
  • Understand the subtle differences between bare infinitive and -ing patterns.
  • Use passive structures for focus shifts.
  • Avoid common mistakes with verb forms and patterns.

Practicing with examples and exercises will build your confidence. This topic connects closely to narrative tenses, reported speech, and aspects, which are useful areas for further study.

With time and effort, you will use sense verbs fluently and naturally, making your stories, descriptions, and conversations much richer. Keep practicing, and enjoy exploring the sounds, sights, smells, tastes, and feelings through English!

Leave a Comment