Like and As If
A complete C1 guide to like and as if — how to describe appearances, sounds, and feelings, the difference between look + adjective and look like + clause, and the special past tense use for unreal present situations.
Describing Appearances, Sounds, and Feelings
Use like or as if to say how somebody or something looks, sounds, or feels.
That house looks like it is going to fall down.
That house looks as if it is going to fall down.
Amy sounded like she had a cold.
Amy sounded as if she had a cold.
I do not feel like I have had a holiday.
I do not feel as if I have had a holiday.
You can also use as though. It has the same meaning as as if.
I do not feel as though I have had a holiday.
Look + Adjective vs. Look Like / As If + Clause
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
look + adjective | You look tired. |
look like + subject + verb | You look like you have not slept. |
look as if + subject + verb | You look as if you have not slept. |
The first pattern uses an adjective after look. The second and third patterns use a full clause.
It Looks Like / It Sounds Like
Use it looks like or it looks as if to comment on a situation.
Sarah is very late. It looks like she is not coming.
It looks as if she is not coming.
It looked like it was going to rain, so we took an umbrella.
It looked as if it was going to rain...
The noise is very loud next door. It sounds like they are having a party.
It sounds as if they are having a party.
You can also use it sounds as though.
Like / As If with Other Verbs
You can use like, as if, and as though with other verbs to describe how somebody does something.
He ran like he was running for his life.
After the interruption, the speaker went on talking as if nothing had happened.
They looked at me as though I was mad.
As If + Past for Unreal Present
After as if, you can use the past tense when talking about the present. This happens when the idea is not real.
He talks as if he knew everything.
(= He does not know everything. The past tense shows the idea is unreal.)
She is always asking me to do things for her — as if I didn't have enough to do already.
(= I do have enough to do already.)
Joe is only 40. Why do you talk about him as if he was an old man?
(= He is not an old man.)
In this structure, you can use were instead of was for a more formal style.
Why do you talk about him as if he were an old man?
They treat me as if I were their own son.
Do not normally use like in this unreal past structure. Use as if or as though.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Better | Why |
|---|---|---|
| He talks like he knew everything. | He talks as if he knew everything. | Do not use like with the unreal past structure. Use as if or as though. |
| You look as if you are tired. | You look tired. / You look as if you haven’t slept. | Use look + adjective for simple descriptions. Use look as if + clause for inferred situations. |
| It looks like it will rain. | It looks like it’s going to rain. / It looks as if it’s going to rain. | Use going to for visible evidence in the present. |
Practice: Exercises
That house looks ___ it's going to fall down.
Summary
Use like or as if to say how somebody or something looks, sounds, or feels.
Use it looks like / it looks as if and it sounds like / it sounds as if to comment on situations.
After as if, you can use the past tense for unreal present situations: He talks as if he knew everything (he does not).
You can use were instead of was after as if for a more formal style: as if he were an old man.
Do not normally use like with the unreal past structure. Use as if or as though.