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Repi Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

like

What should follow like in sentences 'you look like, 'it seems like' etc. You look like you were tired. Or, you look like you would be tired? I've seen examples of use both 'would' and past simple. Is there a difference in meaning or one is incorrect? Thank you!
  

Top answer

Normally it would be "You look like / as if you are tired", or, if you want to talk about a past appearance, "You look ed like / as if you were tired". I can't think of any reason to include the word "would". "like" in this sense is informal.

— GPY

  • Normally it would be "You look like / as if you are tired", or, if you want to talk about a past appearance, "You look ed like / as if you were tired".
  • I can't think of any reason to include the word "would".
  • "like" in this sense is informal.
  • "as if" is more strictly correct.
  • "
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5 Answers
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Normally it would be "You look like / as if you are tired", or, if you want to talk about a past appearance, "You looked like / as if you were tired". I can't think of any reason to include the word "would". "like" in this sense is informal. "as if" is more strictly correct.

Of course, you can also simply say "You look(ed) tired."
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Thanks! What is more formal in this sense than like? What if I say something that I know is not true. 'You look like you would be religious'. In this case somebody, who I know is not religious, wears a cross just for fashion. Would it be correct to say the above sentence in this case?
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RepiThanks! What is more formal in this sense than like?
In formal English, use "as if". However, "as if" is not restricted to formal language; it can be used at any formality level.
Repi 'You look like you would be religious'. In this case somebody, who I know is not religious, wears a cross just for fashion. Would it be correct t
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Ok, so if I want to use 'like' it's always the same tense that follows like 'like' is in?
You look like you want to eat sg. You look like you are tired.
Can I just say 'you look like tired'? If for some reason I don' t want to say simply 'you look tired'?
Thanks thanks thanks
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RepiOk, so if I want to use 'like' it's always the same tense that follows like 'like' is in?You look like you want to eat sg. You look like you are tired.
Any tense can follow "like" if it fits the context and it is consistent with the rest of the sentence. I already mentioned the example of "You looked like you were tired". Other tense examples might be
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