Ask about looks and about general qualities.
The idea
What does ... look like? asks about appearance. What is ... like? asks about general qualities or character. Both expressions can also make comparisons.
| Expression | Focus |
|---|---|
| look like | appearance |
| be like | general qualities |
Examples
- What does your new neighbour look like?
- The tower looks like a giant pencil.
- That puppy looks like its mother.
- What is your new teacher like?
- The village is like a big family.
- What are the lessons like?
Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.
No English device voice is available. You can still read the examples.
Watch out
Do not answer a question with look like only with a personality trait; it asks what someone looks like.
Try it yourself
Choose the correct word. What ___ your cousin look like? — Tall, with dark hair. (does / is)
Show answer or example answer
does
does: the question asks about visible appearance.
Choose the correct word. What ___ your boss like? — Patient and kind. (does / is)
Show answer or example answer
is
is: the question asks about character.
Choose the correct word. What ___ the classes like? — Interesting and practical. (are / do)
Show answer or example answer
are
are: the question asks about the lessons’ qualities.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the correct word. What ___ your cousin look like? — Tall, with dark hair. (does / is)
Choose the correct word. What ___ your boss like? — Patient and kind. (does / is)
Choose the correct word. What ___ the classes like? — Interesting and practical. (are / do)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Ask a friend about a place’s appearance and its general atmosphere.