VOA名师答疑2024--Feel, Feel Like

Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Ana in Brazil about the difference between "feel" and "feel like."

Question

Hi guys

I've... learned¹ a lot from VOA English.

I'm so grateful for helping² us with our difficulties on English learning³.

My question is about the use of the verb "to feel". What's the difference between "feel" and "feel like" and other uses of this verb? And if its use is followed by a verb plus ING.

Thank you so much in advance.

Ana Lúcia from Brazil

Answer

Thank you for writing, Ana. We're happy you learn a lot from Learning English. And I'm happy to answer your question.

Feel

The verb "feel" has many meanings in English. It can mean to experience an emotion:

I always feel thankful to my parents.

Or experience something in your body:

She felt a pain in her back.

"Feel" can mean to touch something:

I feel the rough sand under my feet.

Or to describe the weather:

It feels cold outside.

"Feel" can also show an opinion:

Do you feel strongly about the situation?

He feels sure we are right.

Feel like

"Feel like" is a phrasal verb. We often use "feel like" in a sentence to go with (someone or something) and (doing something).

"Feel like" someone or something means that you are similar to the person or thing:

My feet feel like blocks of ice.

Maria feels like her mother.

"Feel like" doing something means that you want to do it. This is when the verb is often followed by -ing.

Jose feels like eating ice cream.

She feels like watching a movie.

Sometimes, "feel like" can be used in this way without -ing:

Jose feels like ice cream.

She feels like a movie.

It is understood that he wants to eat ice cream or that she wants to watch a movie.

And we also use "feel like" to show an opinion:

I feel like this isn't a good idea.

We hope this explanation helps you, Ana.

Words in This Story

grateful-n. thankful

advance-n. forward in time

1 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。