El uso de "oler"

[laepelba]

Is the verb "oler" used only as an action verb? Or can it be passive?

For example, I know that I can say: "La mujer huele las flores."

Can I also say: "Las flores huelen bien." (??)

Está el uso de "oler" solamente como verbo de la acción? ¿O puede ser pasivo?

Por ejemplo, yo sé que puedo decir: "La mujer huele las flores."

(¿¿) Puedo decir tambien: "Las flores huelen bien." (??)

¡Muchas gracias por su respuesta en inglés!

[Rusty]

Both constructions are acceptable. The second sentence is not passive, though. In that sentence, the verb oler is a linking verb (subjective complement structure).

[CrOtALiTo]

Yes, the word Oler at Spanish is acceptable, you can use the word with much kind sentences built in your examples, for example I want to say, I'm smelling the flowers from my garden, (Estoy oliendo las flores de mi jardin) the word Oler is well said at Spanish and also on your translation.

[sosia]

"El bizocho en la ventana huele a amor de madre"
"La ciudad huele a corrupción"
"Algo huele a podrido en Dinamarca...."/"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark". Hamlet Act 1, scene 4, 87–91 ...

Saludos

[laepelba]

Great! I appreciate the comments.

Um, Sosia - would you mind translating the first one for me? I take it from the smiley face you added to it that I ought to be laughing, but my Spanish isn't good enough to translate it.... Thanks!

[CrOtALiTo]

El bizocho en la ventana huele a amor de madre"

The biscuit at the windows smells to love of mother.

I hope this help you.

I did my major endeavor.

[Rusty]

Sosia misspelled bizcocho (a typo). This word means different things in different countries. Maybe Sosia could provide a picture! For now, I'll use pie.

Using pie for bizcocho, Sosia's sentence is translated:
The pie in/on the window sill smells like a mother's love. -or-
The pie at the window smells like a mother's love.

[CrOtALiTo]

I want to know if my example is correct.

[Rusty]

en la ventana
= at the window (not: at the windows)
huela a
= smells like (not: smells to)
amor de madre
= a mother's love -or- the love of a mother (the articles are required in English)

Bisquit is a possible translation of bizcoche, but so is cake, sponge cake, pie, cookie, crust, roll, danish, etc. I'd like to see a picture from Sosia so we know what he's smelling on that window sill (antepecho).

There is also a third way to say the ending:
The pie at the window smells like the love of a mother.

[laepelba]

I LOVE that saying ... my mother has always loved to bake. As she is getting on in years, I worry that the day may soon come that I will not be able to benefit from the receipt of her efforts. The delicious smells in a bakery always remind me of her. The saying makes perfect sense, given that bizcoche is some sort of baked good. The [baked good] in the window smells of a mother's love. YES IT DOES!

Sosia - I'll join the rest. We need a picture.