Like / as if / as though like to say how somebody or something looks/sounds/feels: That house looks like ics going co fall down. Helen sounded like she had a cold, didnt she? O Wve just got back from holiday, but | feel very tired. | dont feel like ve had a holiday. ‘You can also use as if or as though in all these examples: That house looks as if irs going to fall down, Helen sounded as if she hac! a cold, didn't she? I don't feel as though I've had a holiday. e looks like to fall dow Compare: © Youlook tired. (look + adjective) ‘You look like you haven't slept. (look like + subject + verb) Asif and as though are more formal than like. You can say It looks like... Ie sounds like Sarah is very late, isnt she? It looks like she it sounds like chey'e isnt coming. © We took an umbrella because it looked like it was going to rain, The noise is very loud next door. It sounds like they're having a party You can also use as if or as though: Iclooks as if she isnfccoming. or Iclooks as though she isn coming. Ic looked as if ic was going to rain © Itsounds as though they e having a party You can us ike / asif / as though with other verbs to say how somebody does something He ran like he was running for his life © Alter the interrupticn, the speaker went on talking as if nothing had happened. When | told them my plan, they looked at meas though I was mad. ‘After as if (or as though), we sometimes use the past when we are talking about the present. For example: © Idont like Tim. He talk as if he knew everything. The meaning is not past in this sentence. We use the past (a5 if he knew) because the idea is reak Tim does not know everything. We use the past in the sare way in other sentences with if and wish (see Unit 39) ceis not normally used in this way. Some more examples: CO. She's always asking me to do things for her ~ asif | didn’t have eno: (do have enough to do) © Garysonly 40, Why do you talk about him as if he was an old man? (he isn't an a todo already, ‘When you use the past in this way, you can use were inste was Why do you talk about hirn as if he were (or was) an old man? They treat me as if | were (or was) their own son. (I'm not their son) ivas/were UniLa9C—Look/sound oc vadecine > UniE99CUkeseas-P Uni?)Exercises wits ame:) aap ‘What do you say in these situations? Use the words in brackets to make your. sentence. 1 You meet Bill. He has a black eye and some plasters on his face. (look / like / be / a fight) ‘You say to him: _ ‘You look \ike you've bean in a fight. . a oo 2. Claire comes into the room. She looks absolutely terrified. (look / like / see /a ghost) ‘You say to her: What's the matter? You a Oe 3 Joe is on holiday. He's talking to you on the phone and sounds happy. (sound / as if / have fa good time) ‘You say tohim: You te 4 You have just run one kilometre. You are absolutely exhausted. (feel / like run / a marathon) You say toa friend: 1 aq ‘Make sentences beginning It looks like ... It sounds like you should seea doctor there’ been anaccident _they/re having an argument its going to rain -sheion'-coming- ‘we'll have to walk 1 Sarah said she would be herean hour ago. You say: ...I:looks like she jan't coming, 2. The sky is full of black clouds. You say: It a Ho - 3 You hear two people shousng ‘at each other next door. You say: — i 4 You see an ambulance, some policemen and ewo damaged ears a the side of the road. You say: . - Be “ 5. You and a friend have just missed the last bus home You say: cc - 6 Dave isnt feeling well. He tells you all about i. You say: scsi sa zs i pa i 08 qa ‘Complete the sentences with as if. Choose from the box, putting the verbs in the correct form. she f enjoy fit 1/ go J be sick he / not / eat (for a week hetneedtagoodiess she /hurt /her leg he / mean / what he / say Hf not / exist she (not / want / come 1. Mark looks very tired. He looks... he needs a good nest 2 Idontt think Paul was joking, He looked 3 What's the matter with Amanda? She's walking... - 4 Peter was extremely hungry and ate his dinner very ouickiy. Hate. Tanya had a bored expression on her face during the movie. Shi i tee 6 Tve just eaten too many chocolates. Now I dont feel well I feel a a I phoned Liz and invited her to the party but she wasn't very enthusiastic about it She sounded ...-—— 8 went into che office, but nobody spoke to me or looked at me. Everybody ignored me ssi - - _ @ ‘These sentences are like the ones in Section D. Complete each sentence using as if, 1 Andly isa terrible driver. He drives _ asifibe were... the anly driver on the road 2. tm 20 years old, so please dont talk £0 Me Poche 3 Steve has never met Nicola, but he talks about her —. = - his best friend. 4 Teas. long time ago that we fist met, but l remember ic — _--— yesterday,