smell burning

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jasonlulu_2000

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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
 

5jj

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It's fine as it is.
 

Kray Cherry

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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. ;-)
 

Rover_KE

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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.

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Rover
 

Barb_D

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I, too, would write "I smelled something burning."
 

emsr2d2

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This might be another AmE vs BrE difference. "Can anyone smell burning?" or "Yesterday, I smelt burning" etc are absolutely fine in BrE.
 

SoothingDave

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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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