33 What ... like?

1 Look at this question and answer: A: What is this material?

A: What’s Julie like? B: I don’t know. It looks like wool but it feels
B: She’s very pretty and she’s very kind, but like cotton.
she’s not very clever.
3 We can also use like, with the question word
We use What ... like? to ask about a person’s
Who and in statements, to mean ‘similar to’:
physical appearance (tall, short, pretty, etc.) or
A: Who’s Julie like - her father or her
character (interesting, boring, friendly,
mother?
unfriendly, etc).
B: She’s like her mother. (= She is similar
We can also use What . like? to ask about to her mother.)
places, books, films and events (e.g. a party, a Rio de Janeiro is like Buenos Aires. (= Rio is
football match): similar to Buenos Aires.)
A: What’s Rio de Janeiro like?
B: Well, the beaches are wonderful but the 4 The word like in What’s she like? is a
traffic is awful. preposition; it is not the verb like. Here is an
A: What’s Spielberg’s latest film like? example of like used as a verb:
B: It’s excellent. A: What music does Julie like?
B: She likes rock music.
2 We use look like? to talk about someone’s
appearance: 5 We usually use How?, not What ... like?, when
A: What does Julie look like? we ask about someone’s health or temporary
B: She’s tall with brown hair. state:
We can also use like with taste, feel, sound, A: How’s your brother today?
and smell: B: He’s feeling much better.
A: What does that taste like? A: How was your boss today?
B: It tastes like cheese. B: He was very friendly today!

Practice
A Use the words in brackets ( ) to make a question that goes with the answer.
Use is/are or look. Sometimes more than ► (What/Sally/like)
A: What js Sally like........................................?
► (What/Jane/like)
A: What does, Jane .look, like........................?
1 (What/Peter/like)
A: ?
2 (What/Anna’s parents/like)
A: ?
3 (What/Tom/like)
A: .........................................................?
4 (What/Eva/like)
A: ?
5 (What/Bob and Tom/like)
A: ?
6 (What/Susan/like)
A: ?
one answer is possible.
~ B: He’s not a very interesting person.
~ B: She’s clever, but she’s a bit boring.
~ B: They’re very generous.
~ B: She’s quite short and has dark hair.
~ B: He’s very tall, and he has blond hair.

Oxford Practice Grammar Basic PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press 2008

 ~ B: She’s tall and strong. ~ B: She’s tall and slim, and she wears

~ B: They’re very amusing. glasses.

PAGE 72 • SENTENCES AND QUESTIONS

Oxford Practice Grammar Basic PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press 2008

 B Read the following descriptions.
Kiwis are a round, brown fruit with a rough skin. They have almost no smell, but they are
sweet, with a flavour similar to strawberries.
A double bass is a musical instrument. It is the largest member of the violin family It has a
deep sound.
Now for each of the answers, write a question about kiwis or a double bass, using
looklsoundltastelsmelllfeel + like.
QUESTION ANSWER
► What do kiwis look like.............................? ~ They’re round and brown.
1 ...........................................................? ~ It has a deep sound.
2 ...........................................................? ~ They don’t really have a smell.
3 ...........................................................? ~ They have a flavour like strawberries.
4 ...........................................................? ~ Like a very big violin.
5 ...........................................................? ~ They are rough to the touch.
C Use the words in brackets ( ) to write a question with the preposition like or the verb
like. Add any other necessary words.
►
(What music/you/like)
A: What music do you like ? ~ B: I like rock music.
►
(What/Julie/like)
A: What is Julie like (Who/your ? ~ B: She is very amusing.
1 sister/like)
A: ? ~ B: She likes a boy in her class.
2 (What/Paul’s brothers/like)
A: ? ~ B: They think they’re clever, but I
(What/Jane/like/for breakfast) don’t.
3
A: ? ~ B: She likes toast and marmalade.
(Who/you/like)
4
A: ? ~ B: I’m like my mother.
5 (What/Mary’s husband/like)
A: ? ~ B: He is rather boring. He’s not like
her.
D Write questions with What... like? (for things that are permanent) or How ... ?
(for health or temporary situations). Use a form of be and the other words in
brackets ( ).
►
(be/Atlanta) What is Atlanta like ? ~ It’s a very modern city.
► (be/Mike/yesterday) How was Mike yesterday ? ~ He felt a lot better.
1 (be/John’s flat) ? ~ It’s very big, and it has a
wonderful view over the city
2 (be/your boss/yesterday)............. ? ~ He was tired but friendly.
3 (be/a squash racquet)................... ? ~ It’s similar to a tennis racquet,
but
lighter.
4 (be/your sister)............................. ? ~ She’s very well, thank you.
5 (be/Portugal) ? ~ It’s very interesting. There are
of things to see. lots

SENTENCES AND QUESTIONS • PAGE 73

Oxford Practice Grammar Basic PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press 2008