|Sentir vs Se Sentir vs Ressentir|
Sentir is used to talk about physical sensations (touch, smell, etc.) e.g. le gâteau sent bon (the cake smells good), je sens le tissu (I feel the fabric). It’s also used to talk about perceptions e.g. je sens que cela va mal (I have a feeling this will go badly).
Se sentir is used to talk about internal feelings e.g. je me sens malade (I feel sick), elle se sent nerveuse (she feels nervous). It is followed by adjectives.
Ressentir is also used to talk about feelings, but deeper or stronger ones e.g. elle ressent une douleur intense (she feels an intense pain), elle ressent beaucoup de peur (she feels a lot of fear). It is mostly followed by nouns.
(For a more thorough explanation: this video is the best I’ve seen.)
