Extra English Practice
Larissa: Today, we want to talk about a couple of expressions that get very easily confused:
LOOK LIKE and BE LIKE
Misha: To start with -- look like.
"Look like" describes someone's appearance.
So, for example, I could say what does your sister look like?
Larissa: And I will describe her appearance, so I may talk about her hair, her eyes, her body type, her height..
so my sister is tall, about as tall as me.
She's medium build. She has blond hair and blue eyes.
Misha: Great. So that's what Larissa's sister LOOKS LIKE.
Larissa: Now, BE LIKE is a little bit different. It talks about personality.
So if I want to know... what someone's personality is.. [laughs]
Misha: Soooo, if you want to know someone's qualities or characteristics,
then you would use IS LIKE.
Larissa: So what IS your sister LIKE? Wait a minute, you don't have a sister!
Misha: I don't have a sister. Larissa: What IS your sister-in-law LIKE?
Misha: There you go, I have a sister-in-law. She's great.
My sister-in-law... she is kind and calm and very loving. That's what she's like.
Larissa: She sounds awesome. Misha: Yeah, she's great.
Larissa: So you see the difference. LOOK LIKE -- what does he look like -- is appearance.
Misha: But IS LIKE -- this is describing someone's personality, so, um, what kind of characteristics or qualities they have.
Not physical things but things you can't see or touch.
Larissa: So let's, we'll give you some more examples through a little activity.
I'm going to... I'd like you to ask me some questions
Misha: Great. Larissa: And I will describe somebody in my life.
It's either my mother, my sister or my daughter. Misha: Okay
Larissa: So she is going to ask me "she" questions
and see if you together can figure out who I'm thinking of.
Misha: Okay, sooooo what does she look like?
Larissa: she has dark hair; it's a little bit longer than mine.
She has brown eyes, and a very cute face!
Misha: I've met Larissa's daughter. She's pretty cute, and she does have dark hair, but I'll ask another question to be sure.
Misha: What is she like? Larissa: She is energetic.
Misha: Mm-hmm, that sounds like a little kid.
Larissa: She is hilarious. Misha: Also fits.. Larissa: And she's very clever.
Misha: Is it your daughter?
Larissa: It's my daughter. You got it.
Misha: Now we're going to play with my family members,
so I'm going to describe either my father, my brother or my nephew.
Larissa: Okay, so what does he look like?
Misha: Um, he has glasses, and a beard and he's quite short.
Larissa: So, I know it's not her nephew because I don't think he's got a beard.
Misha: He's only five.
Larissa: Okay, what is he like? Misha: He's very wise and helpful and very kind.
Larissa: I got it! Misha: You got it? Larissa: It's your dad! Misha: It's my dad.
Larissa: "Wise" is an adjective we usually use with someone who is experienced,
who's a little bit older. Misha: That's true.
Although, you know, we're quite young.. Larissa: Oh, and wise.. Misha: And wise..
Larissa: The wisdom is just flowing out of us. Misha: Just flowing! Watch out!
[laughing at their silly selves]
Larissa: Now I'm just going to describe someone, tell you what she is like and what she looks like,
and see if you can all figure out who it is.
Misha: Okay. Larissa: Okay, so this person has short dark hair.
She has brown eyes, and she wears glasses.
She's not short, but she's a little shorter than me.
Misha: What else? Larissa: What else? [laughter]
Larissa: She is fun-loving, she is funny...
Misha: This person sounds awesome!
Larissa: She is not humble! [laughter]
She's a good friend, and she's a great teacher.
Misha: Is it..... me?! Larissa: It's you!
Misha: It was a good, very good description, spot on, spot on.
Larissa: [whispering] I didn't tell you some of the other things...
Misha: The list just goes on forever, and it's all good. Larissa: It's all good, of course!
Misha: That was fun.
So, in summary, LOOK LIKE and BE LIKE are very different.
One is describing appearance, that's LOOK LIKE
and then one is describing personality or characteristics, and that's BE LIKE.
Larissa: So what does she LOOK LIKE? you want to talk about this. Misha: This.
Larissa: What IS she LIKE -- you want to talk about this.. Misha: What's inside there...
Okay, so you can think about that and try describing some people in your own life.
Larissa: So actually we have a little task for you today.
If you could think of a famous person and describe what he looks like or she looks like
and what he is like or what she is like and leave it in the comments,
we'll see if we can figure it out.
Misha: That's right, we'll play a little guessing game. Larissa: Let's play together.
Misha: So in the comments, leave your description, we'll guess.
Or someone else can guess. Larissa: Oh, yeah, lets all guess. Let's all play!
Misha: imaginary bonus points to the winner, there you go.
Extra English Practice