Explanation

Like as a verb has a person as the subject:

I like modern art.

I don't like the way he looks at me.

Do you like fish?

Would you like a drink?

Like as a preposition has an object after it:

She's wearing a hat like mine.

He's nothing like his father.

What is/are/was/were... like? is used to ask about the permanent

nature of people and things. It asks for a description or an impression

or a comparison.

What's the health service like in your country?

What are the new students like?

Be careful!

1 With a description or an impression, we do not use like in the answer.

What's London like? It's quite big, and it's very interesting.

NOT It's like quite big... What's Amanda like? She's tall, attractive, and very funny.

2 With a comparison, we can use like in the answer. Here, like means
similar to / the same as. NOT She's like tall...

What's London like? It's like New York, but without the tall buildings. (= It's similar to...)

What's Amanda's daughter like? She’s just like Amanda (=She’s the same as…)

Consolidation of grammar “Look or look like”

Match the questions in list A to their answers in list B.

A B

1 What is it like living here? a I like westerns and thrillers.

2 what is your father like? b I enjoy going for long walks and

3 What does he look like? going out in the evening with my friends.

4 What does your house / flat look like? c He is a bit taller than me and he’s got darker hair.

5 What would you like to do in the future? d I’d love to go to the USA.

6 What do you like doing in your free time? e I’d like to study computer programming.

7 What were you like as a child? f It’s quite boring for young people – there’s

8 What kind of films do you like? nothing to do in the evening.

9 What country would you most like to visit? g I was very naughty and always got told off

by the teachers.

h It’s quite modern and is painted white.

i He’s very quiet and very intelligent.

b) U LISTENING and asking questions [6.2; 3]

Listen and tick (γ) the question each person is answering. 1 Do you like Thai food? What’s Thai food like? 2 Who does Bridget look like? What’s Bridget like? 3 How’s your brother? What’s your brother like? 4 What does she like? What does she look like? 5 What’s the weather like there? Do you like the weather there? 6 What does he look like? What’s he like? 7 What do you like doing on holiday? What was your holiday like? 8 What kind of books do you like? What kind of books would you like?