Dear Cunliffe (Lynne),
You have been given some very good answers.
In �A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language� by Professor Randolph Quirk et al, 2010, the verb �To feel� is described as a �Verb of Perception�, pages 203-206.
Verbs of Perception
In the sphere of perception, stative meaning (states, not actions) can be expressed in two ways: we can either place �the perceiver� in Subject Position, as in [1a � 5a] below, or we can place �the percept� (or thing perceived) in the Subject Position, as in [1b � 5b].
(1) Perceiver at Subject Position
I can see the house. 1a
We could hear singing. 2a
I could feel vibrations. 3a
Can you smell the soup? 4a
I could taste the garlic in the soup. 5a
(2) Percept at Subject Position
The house looks empty. 1b
The singing sounded far away. 2b
The vibrations felt as if they could have been caused by an earthquake. 3b
Can you smell the soup? 4b
I could taste the garlic in the soup. 5b
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Sentences such as [1a � 5a] and [1b � 5b] cannot normally occur with the Progressive Aspect, even though they are likely to refer to temporary rather than permanent states. This may be contrasted, however, with sentences containing the perception verbs look (at) and listen (to), which, being agentive and dynamic, describe an intentional activity, and occur quite commonly with the Progressive.
A. What are you doing? B. I�m seeing these photographs.
A. What are you doing? B. I�m looking at these photographs.
A. What are you doing? B. I�m hearing a new record.
A. What are you doing? B. I�m listening to a new record.
The English language lacks special agentive perception verbs, (verbs which perceive an agent, a a thing, a cause), for the other three senses of feel, smell, and taste, so that the stative verbs feel, smell and taste, must do duty here, as well as for the two stative meanings.
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Table 4.30 Perception Verbs.
|
STATIVE |
DYNAMIC |
|
Percept as Subject |
Perceiver as Subject |
Non-Agentive |
Agentive |
|
look |
can/could see |
see |
look (at) |
|
sound |
can/could sound |
hear |
listen (to) |
|
feel |
can/could feel |
feel |
feel |
|
smell |
can/could smell |
smell |
smell |
|
taste |
can/could taste |
taste |
taste |
NOTES
(a) Look in sense Percept as Subject, is exceptional in occurring commonly with the Progressive.
You look tired this evening.
You are looking tired this evening.
There is little discernible difference between the Progressive and Non-Progressive variants here.
(b) Of course, there are non-perceptual uses of the verbs in Table 4.30. These include the use of see in the sense of �meet�: I�m seeing the Manager tomorrow.
(c) Note the exceptional use of see and hear with the Progressive (focussing on the process of perception) in
I need some spectacles. I�m not seeing things so well these days.
A.Did you hear a bell ring just then?
B.No, I can�t hear a thing.
A.There it goes again. I am hearing it now/I can hear it now.
In the following, too, the exceptional occurrence of the Progressive seems to arise from perception which is treated as an ongoing process. Your soup is tasting better every day. My scarf is no longer smelling of lavender. Such examples are very unusual, however.
This doesn�t quite answer your question, but it makes a slight contribution.
Les Douglas
