What Is the Past Tense of Smells?
The verb “smells” is the third-person singular present tense form of “smell.” When describing an action that happened in the past, “smells” changes to its past tense form.
The past tense of “smells” is “smelled” in American English and “smelt” in British English, although “smelled” is also widely accepted in the United Kingdom.
Both are correct, but the choice often depends on regional preference, context, and style guidelines. For instance, “She smelled the flowers yesterday” would be standard in American usage, while “She smelt the flowers yesterday” might appear in British literature.
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Why Does Smells Have Two Past Tense Forms?
English is influenced by both historical linguistic changes and regional variations. “Smelt” is considered an older form that has survived primarily in British English, whereas “smelled” became dominant in North America due to standardization in dictionaries and education systems.
Linguists attribute this to the process of regularization in American English, which tends to favor the -ed ending for past tense verbs.
Studies in comparative English grammar by university linguists show that both forms are still in use, but “smelled” accounts for over 80% of cases globally in modern print media.
How Do You Use the Past Tense of Smells in a Sentence?
When you replace “smells” with its past tense form, the sentence shifts from describing a present condition to a past action or state.
For example, “The kitchen smells of freshly baked bread” becomes “The kitchen smelled of freshly baked bread” if you are recalling the scent from earlier in the day. This transformation follows the same pattern as many regular verbs, except for the alternate British form “smelt.”
Here are four varied examples:
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Present: “He smells the perfume.” Past: “He smelled the perfume at the store yesterday.”
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Present: “This soup smells delicious.” Past: “The soup smelled delicious when it was served last night.”
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Present: “She smells the roses every morning.” Past: “She smelt the roses before leaving the garden.”
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Present: “The air smells fresh after the rain.” Past: “The air smelled fresh after the rainstorm yesterday.”
Is Smelt Always the Past Tense of Smells?
No. While “smelt” is a recognized past tense of “smells” in British English, it can also be a completely different verb meaning “to extract metal from ore,” as in “The factory smelt iron.”
Context is crucial to understanding the intended meaning. If the sentence involves scent or odor, “smelt” serves as the past tense of “smell.”
If it involves metallurgy, it is a separate verb entirely. This dual function can sometimes cause confusion for learners, making it important to rely on context clues.
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How Do Regional Preferences Affect Word Choice?
In the United States, “smelled” is overwhelmingly more common in both speech and writing, appearing in educational materials, news reports, and academic publications.
In the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, “smelt” is more familiar, though “smelled” is also widely understood.
International organizations often choose “smelled” to maintain consistency in documents intended for a global audience.
Surveys from corpus-based linguistic research show that while younger generations in Britain still encounter “smelt,” exposure to American media has increased the frequency of “smelled” in casual usage.
Can You Use Smelled and Smelt Interchangeably?
Yes, but only when referring to the act of sensing an odor. If you are following British English conventions, you may use “smelt” in place of “smelled,” and both would be correct.
However, in formal American English writing, “smelled” is preferred to ensure clarity. In professional or academic contexts, it is often advisable to choose the form most familiar to your intended audience.
For instance, an American magazine article might use “smelled” consistently, while a British novel might opt for “smelt” for stylistic authenticity.
Graphical Guide: Usage Preference of Smelled vs Smelt in Global English
| Region | Most Common Form | Alternative Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Smelled | Rarely Smelt | “He smelled smoke coming from the chimney.” |
| United Kingdom | Smelt | Smelled | “She smelt lavender in the garden.” |
| Australia | Smelt | Smelled | “They smelt the ocean breeze during their walk.” |
| Canada | Smelled | Smelt (less common) | “He smelled gasoline near the car.” |
Why Understanding Both Forms Improves Communication
Mastering both “smelled” and “smelt” allows you to adapt to different audiences without altering meaning. This flexibility is valuable in international communication, literature, and academic writing.
Readers are more likely to trust content that reflects their linguistic norms, which is why professional writers and educators often learn both variations.
Can Smells Be Used in Past Continuous or Perfect Tenses?
Yes. Beyond simple past tense, “smells” can adapt to other past forms:
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Past Continuous: “The bread was smelling wonderful as it baked.”
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Past Perfect: “By the time we arrived, the kitchen had smelled of spices for hours.”
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Past Perfect Continuous: “She had been smelling the roses for several minutes before noticing the bees.”
These variations help convey duration, completion, or timing in relation to other events.
How Do You Teach the Past Tense of Smells Effectively?
Language educators often use sensory experiences to reinforce verb conjugations. For example, a classroom activity might involve passing around scented items like coffee beans or flowers and asking students to describe them in the present tense, then again in the past tense.
Research in applied linguistics supports the idea that multisensory learning helps cement verb forms in long-term memory. This approach is especially effective for irregular verbs or those with multiple accepted past tense forms.
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FAQ on the Past Tense of Smells
Q1: Which is more correct, smelled or smelt?
Both are correct. “Smelled” is preferred in American English, while “smelt” is common in British English.
Q2: Is smelt ever wrong?
No, but in American academic or professional contexts, “smelled” is safer to avoid confusion.
Q3: Why does English allow two past tense forms for the same verb?
It is due to historical development, regional variation, and preservation of older forms in some dialects.
Q4: Can I mix smelled and smelt in the same text?
It is better to be consistent within one piece unless you are quoting dialogue or intentionally showing regional speech patterns.
Q5: Does smelt mean something else?
Yes, it can also mean “to extract metal from ore,” which is unrelated to smelling.
Q6: How common is smelt in modern English?
It is less common globally than smelled, but still frequent in British and Australian writing.
Q7: Are there other verbs like smell that have two past tense forms?
Yes, verbs like “spell” (spelled/spelt) and “learn” (learned/learnt) follow a similar pattern.