Irregular verb
The verb to smell
smell → smelled/smelt → smelled/smelt
B1Meaning: to notice something with your nose; to have a particular smell · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they smell·he/she/it smells - Past Simple:
smelled(US) orsmelt(UK) - Past participle:
smelled(US) orsmelt(UK) - -ing form:
smelling
Conjugation of the verb to smell
Present Simple
| I | smell |
| You | smell |
| He / She / It | smells |
| We | smell |
| You (pl.) | smell |
| They | smell |
Past Simple
| I | smelled / smelt |
| You | smelled / smelt |
| He / She / It | smelled / smelt |
| We | smelled / smelt |
| You (pl.) | smelled / smelt |
| They | smelled / smelt |
All the forms of the verb to smell
Present Simple
Full pagesmell / smells
“The kitchen smells nice.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are smelling
“I am smelling the flowers right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagesmelled (US) / smelt (UK)
“The kitchen smelled of fresh bread.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were smelling
“I was smelling the flowers when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has smelled
“I have already smelled the flowers.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad smelled
“She had already smelled the flowers when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill smell
“I will smell the flowers tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to smell
“I'm going to smell the flowers this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould smell
“I would smell the flowers if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to smell
1. Having a smell
Here smell is a state verb: it takes an adjective (smell sweet, smell good).
- The flowers smell sweet.
- Your feet smell!
2. Using your nose
Here smell is an action: you notice a smell, or you try to. I can smell… is very common.
- Smell this perfume.
- I can smell smoke.
3. Idioms
This smells fishy means something seems strange or dishonest. I smell a rat means you think something is wrong.
- This smells fishy.
- I smell a rat.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Smell is also a noun
A smell is what your nose notices. A nice smell is a good one, and a bad smell is an unpleasant one: There is a bad smell in the fridge.
2. I am smelling smoke ❌
To say what your nose notices, English often uses can: I can smell coffee, like I can hear and I can see. The -ing form is not natural here: say I can smell smoke.
What's next?
You can conjugate to smell. Now say it out loud.
This page explained everything. On PLAY, you practise this verb out loud in 3 minutes, until it comes naturally.
Practise to smell on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersReady-made activities to practise to smell in class
The Academy offers self-marking exercises and progress tracking for each student: your class practises, and you see who has got it and who needs more help.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
English contestConjugating to smell is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of smell?+
There are two correct forms: smelled (regular, American English) and smelt (irregular, British English). The past participle is the same. Smell → smelled/smelt → smelled/smelt. Other verbs work in the same way: burned / burnt, learned / learnt.
Is it smelled or smelt?+
Smelled is the regular form, preferred in American English. Smelt is the irregular form, preferred in British English. Both are correct everywhere: it is only a regional preference.
Is it smells good or smells well?+
Say It smells good or It smells nice. After smell, use an adjective, not an adverb: never It smells nicely. To make it stronger, say It smells delicious, wonderful or amazing.
What does smell fishy mean?+
Smell fishy is an idiom: it means to seem strange or dishonest. Something smells fishy here means something is wrong. The idea comes from fish that is not fresh: the bad smell tells you there is a problem.
What is the difference between smell and sniff?+
Smell can describe how something smells (The food smelled good) or the action of using your nose. Sniff is a stronger action: you breathe in quickly through your nose, and people can hear it. The dog sniffed the food.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/smell
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.