Sensory Detail for class 5 English

Usage of Sensory Words

Sensory words are used to stir the five senses: touch, sound, taste, sight and smell. It allows the readers to experience as if they are living the story. In this chapter, students will know the purpose of sensory details with examples and common mistakes to avoid while using them.

In this learning concept, students will learn :

What are sensory words?
Sensory words list.
Usage of sensory analysis words with examples.

All the learning concepts covered for Class 5 have illustrations, mind maps, and examples. Students can check their understanding by solving the two printable PDF worksheets. The solutions to these exercises are also available in PDF format.

Definition

Sensory words are used to show details about a story and not just by telling. They appeal to our five senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell in such a way that the writing comes to life.
It makes readers feel as if they are experiencing the description or the story right in front of their eyes.
Sensory words are very powerful and notable than normal words as they help the reader to imagine better with the use of sensory words.

Example:

I heard a crashing sound and looked out of the window.
‘Crashing’ here is a sensory word that appeals to your auditory sense and makes you imagine something like an accident or something that crashes into the other.

Sensory details turn a boring write-up into an interesting and involving one by adding interesting descriptive words to it.

What are Sensory Words?

Words that describe anything are usually sensory words. These words indicate how we feel, hear, see, smell or taste something.
Adjectives are most commonly used for sensory details, verbs and adverbs can also be used frequently for the purpose.
While describing sensory details related to a sight we include parameters like physical properties of the object, place, or person that includes colours, shapes, size, etc.

Examples of sensory words related to the five senses
Sight	Sound	Touch	Taste	Smell
huge	crackling	sticky	bitter	burnt
glowing	crunchy	slimy	sweet	rotten
hazy	humming	smooth	buttery	fishy
tiny	crashing	muddy	yummy	floral
bright	silent	soft	tempting	ripe

How to Use Sensory Words?

Have a look at the example below to understand the usage of sensory words.

Example:

Plain Sentence	Sentence with Sensory Details	Explanation
We bought a new house.	My father bought a new two-room apartment in New Alipore, Kolkata. It has a huge playground, swimming pool, a beautiful terrace, community room, and much more.	In the first column, we only know a new house is purchased. In the second column, we know the location, it is a two-room apartment that has huge playground, swimming pool, a beautiful terrace, community room.
I enjoyed Sunday.	I enjoyed Sunday. I and my friend watched a movie at a popular theatre in the city while munching on cheese popcorn. After that, we did a bit of shopping and had cold coffee to beat the humid weather.	In the first column, we only know that the writer enjoyed the Sunday. In the second column, we know that they watched a movie, had cheese popcorn, did shopping, and had cold coffee as the weather was humid.

In the above examples, the sentences in the second column are descriptive as it includes specific words to help the reader understand better.
Each of the sentences in the second column has one sensory detail using adjectives or verbs, or nouns.

Common Mistake

Too much of sensory details can make it difficult for the reader to remember the details and not distract them. Use it appropriately.
Use sense verbs correctly in a sentence to show the use of sensory details. Sense or sensory verbs define the five senses: hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching. Use adjectives with sense verbs than adverbs.
The English grammar rule is to modify verbs with adverbs. However, in this case, sense verbs must be changed by adjectives and not adverbs.