Look like, sound as if and feel as though say how something seems; it looks like and it sounds as if describe a situation; and as if + past describes something unreal, as in he talks as if he knew everything.
A looks like, sounds as if, feels as though
Use like or as if (or as though) to say how somebody or something looks, sounds or feels.
Compare look + adjective (You look tired) with look like / as if + subject + verb (You look as if you haven't slept).
- That fence looks like it's about to blow over.
- That fence looks as if it's about to blow over.
- Amira sounded like she'd been crying, didn't she?
- I slept for ten hours, but I don't feel like I've slept at all.
- I don't feel as though I've slept at all.
- You look tired.
- You look as if you've just run a marathon.
B it looks like, it sounds as if
We say it looks like / as if and it sounds like / as if about a situation.
- The bus is twenty minutes late. It looks like it isn't coming.
- It looked as if it might snow, so we packed our gloves.
- Listen to that cheering. It sounds like they've scored a goal.
- It sounds as though they've scored a goal.
C How somebody does something
Like, as if and as though can follow other verbs to say how somebody does something.
- He ran like he was being chased by a bull.
- After the fire alarm, the speaker carried on as if nothing had happened.
- When I suggested a swim in the sea in February, they stared at me as though I'd lost my mind.
D as if + past for something unreal
After as if, we sometimes use the past about the present. The meaning is not past: the past shows the idea is not real. The same happens with if and wish (Unit 39). Like is not normally used this way.
You can use were instead of was.
- I find him exhausting. He behaves as if he owned the place. (he doesn't)
- My boss keeps piling on more work, as if I wasn't busy enough already.
- Kate's only fifty. Why do you treat her as if she was ancient?
- Why do you treat her as if she were ancient?
- My neighbours fuss over me as though I were part of the family. (I'm not)
Exercises
118.1 What would you say? Use the words in brackets.
You meet Bill. His arm is in a sling and he has a bruise on his cheek.
(look / like / have / an accident)
You look like you've had an accident.
You look like you've had an accident.
Claire comes into the room looking absolutely terrified.
What's the matter? (look / as if / see / a ghost)
What's the matter? You look as if you've seen a ghost.
You've only run one kilometre, but you're exhausted.
(feel / like / run / a marathon)
I feel like I've run a marathon.
Joe is at a festival. He rings you, laughing and shouting over the music.
(sound / as if / enjoy / yourself)
You sound as if you're enjoying yourself.
118.2 Make sentences beginning It looks like ... or It sounds like ..., using: you need a holiday; someone has broken in; they're celebrating; it's going to snow; he's missed the train; they've sold out.
Your brother was due on the 6.15 train. It's now 6.40 and he isn't here.
You say:
It looks like he's missed the train.
It looks like he's missed the train.
The sky is heavy and grey, and it's below freezing.
You say:
It looks like it's going to snow.
You hear music, cheering and the pop of corks from next door.
You say:
It sounds like they're celebrating.
You get home and find the back door open and drawers pulled out.
You say:
It looks like someone has broken in.
You and a friend are in a shop looking for the new game, but the shelf is empty.
You say:
It looks like they've sold out.
A colleague tells you how stressed and exhausted they are.
You say:
It sounds like you need a holiday.
118.3 Complete the sentences with as if and one of these, putting the verb in the right form: she / love / it; I / be / joking; he / not / sleep / for days; he / need / a holiday; she / twist / her ankle; he / not / believe / me; I / be / invisible; she / not / want / help.
Mark has been yawning all afternoon. He seems as if he needs a holiday.
Mark has been yawning all afternoon. He seems as if he needs a holiday.
I told Paul the truth, but he frowned. He looked .
I told Paul the truth, but he frowned. He looked as if he didn't believe me.
What's wrong with Lisa? She's limping .
What's wrong with Lisa? She's limping as if she's twisted her ankle.
Paul had huge bags under his eyes. He looked .
Paul had huge bags under his eyes. He looked as if he hadn't slept for days.
I watched Sarah on the roller coaster. She was grinning from ear to ear. She looked .
I watched Sarah on the roller coaster. She was grinning from ear to ear. She looked as if she was loving it.
I told my friends I was quitting my job to become a clown. They laughed .
They laughed as if I was joking.
I offered to help Kate with the bags, but she shook her head. She looked .
I offered to help Kate with the bags, but she shook her head. She looked as if she didn't want help.
I stood at the bar for ten minutes, but the staff served everyone else .
I stood at the bar for ten minutes, but the staff served everyone else as if I was invisible.
118.4 Complete each sentence with as if, using the past for an idea that is not real.
Our neighbour is a reckless cyclist. On the pavement he rides as if he owned it.
Our neighbour is a reckless cyclist. On the pavement he rides as if he owned it.
I'm twenty, so please don't talk to me .
I'm twenty, so please don't talk to me as if I were a child.
Steve met the singer once, years ago, but he talks about her .
Steve met the singer once, years ago, but he talks about her as if she were his best friend.
We first met years ago, but I remember it .
We first met years ago, but I remember it as if it were yesterday.