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Thread: smell burning

  1. 03-Jan-2013, 12:41 #1
    jasonlulu_2000
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    Default smell burning

    About ten minutes later, we smelt burning. I opened the oven to find my daughter's cake on fire and it was all my fault.

    Is the underlined part grammatically correct? Should I add "something" between smelt and burning?

    thanks for your help!

    Jason
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  2. 03-Jan-2013, 12:46 #2
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    5jj
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    Default Re: smell burning

    It's fine as it is.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.

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  3. 03-Jan-2013, 12:59 #3
    Kray Cherry
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    Default Re: smell burning

    Quote Originally Posted by 5jj View Post
    It's fine as it is.
    mm, I would say yes ok but for perfection smelt "somthing" burning as at the time you didnt know it was the cake.
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  4. 03-Jan-2013, 13:49 #4
    Rover_KE
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    Default Re: smell burning

    Quote Originally Posted by Kray Cherry View Post
    Mm, I would say 'yes, OK' but for perfection 'smelt "something" burning' as at the time you didn't know it was the cake.
    Welcome to Using English, Kray Cherry.

    Please read this extract from the Posting Guidelines:

    You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly at the top of your post.

    Thank you.

    Rover
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  5. 03-Jan-2013, 18:11 #5
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    Default Re: smell burning

    I, too, would write "I smelled something burning."
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.
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  6. 03-Jan-2013, 21:04 #6
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    Default Re: smell burning

    This might be another AmE vs BrE difference. "Can anyone smell burning?" or "Yesterday, I smelt burning" etc are absolutely fine in BrE.
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    Remember - correct capitalisation, punctuation and spacing make posts much easier to read.
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  7. 03-Jan-2013, 21:09 #7
    SoothingDave
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    Default Re: smell burning

    Quote Originally Posted by emsr2d2 View Post
    This might be another AmE vs BrE difference. "Can anyone smell burning?" or "Yesterday, I smelt burning" etc are absolutely fine in BrE.
    It's certainly understandable without, but I would put a "something" in there as well.
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