As if / As though / Like

Describing Appearances, Sounds, and Feelings

Use like or as if (or as though) to say how somebody or something looks, sounds, or feels. All three mean the same thing.

• That building looks like it’s going to collapse.
• That building looks as if it’s going to collapse.
• That building looks as though it’s going to collapse.

More examples:

• Amy sounded like she had a cold, didn’t she?
• I’ve just come back from holiday, but I don’t feel as if I’ve had a rest.
• You look like you haven’t slept all night.

Notice the pattern: look / sound / feel + like or as if / as though + subject + verb.

Compare with an adjective:

Pattern	Example
look + adjective	You look tired.
look + like / as if + clause	You look like you haven’t slept.

It looks like … / It sounds like …

You can use it looks like … or it looks as if … to give an impression about a situation. The same applies to it sounds like … and it sounds as if ….

• Sarah is very late. It looks like she isn’t coming.
• The sky is dark. It looks as if it’s going to rain.
• There’s a lot of noise next door. It sounds like they’re having a party.
• I heard shouting from the office. It sounded as though something had gone wrong.

With Other Verbs

You can use like / as if / 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.
• When I told them my plan, they looked at me as though I was mad.

The Unreal Past After as if

After as if (or as though), you sometimes use the past tense even though the meaning is present. This happens when the situation is not real.

• He talks as if he knew everything. (but he does not know everything)
• She’s always asking me to help — as if I didn’t have enough to do already. (I do have enough to do)
• Joe’s only 40. Why do you talk about him as if he was an old man? (he is not an old man)

You can use were instead of was in this pattern:

• Why do you talk about him as if he were an old man?
• They treat me as if I were their own son. (I am not their son)

This is the same unreal past that you use with if and wish.

Quick Self-Check