“Feel” describes a sensation, emotion, physical state, or opinion. “Feel like” means having a desire or inclination to do something or can also describe a resemblance. The phrase “feel like” is often followed by a verb (using “-ing”) or a noun.
Feel
- Sensation or perception: “I feel cold.” / “She feels the texture.”
- Emotion: “I feel happy.” / “He feels sad.”
- State or condition: “I feel tired.” / “They feel sick.”
- Opinion or thought: “I feel that this is right.” / “She feels we should leave.”
Fill in the blank: He ___ joy when he saw the puppy.
feels
'Feel' + noun describes experiencing a specific emotion or sensation.
Feel like
- Desire or inclination: “I feel like eating pizza.” / “Do you feel like going out?”
- Resemblance or similarity: “You feel like your mother.” (meaning you remind me of your mother)
Summary
- Use “feel” to express sensations, emotions, states, or opinions.
- Use “feel like” + verb(-ing) to express a desire to do something.
- Use “feel like” + noun to express resemblance or similarity.
When do you use 'feel' instead of 'feel like'?
to express a sensation, emotion, state, or opinion
'Feel' is for expressing how you experience a sensation, emotion, physical or mental state, or your opinion.
Examples
| Usage | Example |
|---|---|
| feel + adjective | I feel tired. / She feels cold. |
| feel + noun | I feel pain. / He feels joy. |
| feel + that clause | I feel that this is right. / She feels we should wait. |
| feel like + verb(-ing) | I feel like eating. / They feel like dancing. |
| feel like + noun | You feel like your brother. / It feels like a dream. |
“Feel” and “feel like” are different structures with different meanings, so choose the one that fits your intended meaning.
Choose the correct example of 'feel like' + noun.
It feels like a dream.
'Feel like' + noun describes a situation that resembles or reminds you of something else.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
