Unit

118 like as if
A We use like or as if to say how somebody/something looks, sounds or feels:
That house looks like it’s going to fall down. or
That house looks as if it’s going to fall down.
Amy sounded like she had a cold, didn’t she? or
Amy sounded as if she had a cold, didn’t she?
I’ve just had a holiday, but I feel very tired. That house looks like it’s
going to fall down.
I don’t feel like I’ve had a holiday. or
I don’t feel as if I’ve had a holiday.
You can also use as though in these examples:
I don’t feel as though I’ve had a holiday.
Compare:
You look tired. (look + adjective)
You look like you haven’t slept.⎧ (look like / as if + subject + verb)
You look as if you haven’t slept. ⎨⎩

B We say: it looks like … or it looks as if … It sounds like they’re

it sounds like … or it sounds as if … having a party next door.
Sarah is very late. It looks like she isn’t coming.
or It looks as if she isn’t coming.
It looked like it was going to rain, so we took
an umbrella.
or It looked as if it was going to rain …
The noise is very loud next door.
It sounds like they’re having a party.
or It sounds as if they’re …
You can also use as though:
It sounds as though they’re having a party.

C You can use like / as if / as though with other verbs to say 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.
When I told them my plan, they looked at me as though I was mad.

D After as if, we sometimes use the past when we are talking about the present.
For example:
I don’t like him. He talks as if he knew everything.
The meaning is not past. We use the past (as if he knew) because the idea is not real: he does not
know everything. We use the past in the same way with if and wish (see Unit 39).
We do not normally use like in this way.
Some more examples:
She’s always asking me to do things for her – as if I didn’t have enough to do already.
(I have enough to do already)
Joe’s only 40. Why do you talk about him as if he was an old man? (he isn’t an old man)
When you use the past in this way, you can use were instead of was:
Why do you talk about him as if he were an old man?
They treat me as if I were their own son. or … as if I was their own son.
(I’m not their son)

236 if I was/were ➜ Unit 39C look/sound etc. + adjective ➜ Unit 99C like and as ➜ Unit 117
 Unit
Exercises 118
118.1 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 blood on his face. (look / like / be / a fight)
You say to him: You look like you’ve been in a fight.
2 Claire comes into the room. She looks absolutely terrified. (look / as if / see / a ghost)
You say to her: What’s the matter? You look as if u've seen a ghost
3 You have just run one kilometre, but you are exhausted. (feel / like / run / a marathon)
You say: I feel like i've run a marathon
4 Joe is on holiday. He’s talking to you on the phone and sounds happy.
(sound / as if / have / a good time)
You say to him: You sound as if u're having a good time
118.2 Make sentences beginning It looks like … or It sounds like … .
you should see a doctor there’s been an accident they’re having an argument
it’s going to rain she isn’t coming they don’t have any
1 Sarah said she would be here an hour ago.
You say: It looks like she isn’t coming.
2 The sky is full of black clouds.
You say: It looks like it's going to rain
3 You hear two people shouting at each other next door.
You say: it sounds like they're having an argument
4 You see an ambulance, some policemen and two damaged cars at the side of the road.
You say: it looks like u should see a doctor
5 You and a friend are in a supermarket. You’re looking for bananas, but without success.
You say: it looks like they don't have any
6 Dave isn’t feeling well. He tells you all about it.
You say: it sounds like there's been an accident

118.3 Complete the sentences with as if. Choose from the box, putting the verbs in the correct form.

she / enjoy / it I / be / crazy he / not / eat / for a week

he / need / a good rest she / hurt / her leg he / mean / what he / say
I / not / exist she / not / want / come
1 Mark looks very tired. He looks as if he needs a good rest .
2 I don’t think Paul was joking. He looked as if he meant what he said .
3 What’s the matter with Lisa? She’s walking as if she hurt her leg .
4 Paul was extremely hungry and ate his dinner very quickly.
He ate as if he hadn't eaten for a week .
5 I looked at Sarah during the movie. She had a bored expression on her face.
She didn’t look as if she was enjoying it .
6 I told my friends about my plan. They were amazed.
They looked at me as if had been crazy .
7 I phoned Kate and invited her to the party, but she wasn’t very enthusiastic.
She sounded as if she didn't want to come .
8 I went into the office, but nobody spoke to me or looked at me.
Everybody ignored me as if i didn't exist .

118.4 These sentences are like the ones in Section D. Complete each sentence using as if.
1 Andy is a terrible driver. He drives as if he were the only driver on the road.
2 I’m 20 years old, so please don’t talk to me as if i am a child.
3 Steve has never met Nicola, but he talks about her as if they were his best friend.
4 We first met a long time ago, but I remember it as if everyting was yesterday.

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