Looks Like, Sounds Like and Seems: Describing Impressions
By the end: I can distinguish an adjective description from a noun-phrase comparison.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Use an adjective directly
Looks, sounds and seems can be followed by an adjective describing an impression.
The room looks spacious.
The plan seems sensible.
Use like before a noun phrase
Like introduces a comparison or an apparent identity with a noun phrase.
That sounds like a good idea.
The building looks like a school.
Keep the claim limited
Looks like and seems report an impression. Add confirmation separately when you have it.
It looks like a mistake, but let’s check.
The place seems quiet from here.
Guided practice
Say or write your answer first. Compare form and meaning with the model.
1. Complete: The idea sounds ___. Use interesting.
Compare a model and explanation
interesting
An adjective follows sounds directly.
2. Complete: It sounds ___ an interesting idea.
Compare a model and explanation
like
Like introduces the noun phrase.
3. Correct: The room looks like spacious.
Compare a model and explanation
The room looks spacious.
Do not put like before this adjective.
4. Correct: That sounds a useful plan.
Compare a model and explanation
That sounds like a useful plan.
Use like before the noun phrase.
5. Describe a building resembling a station.
Compare a model and explanation
It looks like a station.
The appearance is not certain identification.
6. Does It seems safe prove safety?
Compare a model and explanation
No. It reports an impression.
Do not treat seem as verification.
7. Rewrite without strengthening: It looks like an error.
Compare a model and explanation
It seems to be an error.
Accept this equivalent, but do not expand into its full grammar here.
8. Write an impression and a checking step.
Compare a model and explanation
It sounds like a problem. Let’s ask for more information.
The checking step should not be reported as already done.
A short conversation
Listen first, then open the transcript when useful.
Open the conversation transcript
A: That building looks like a hotel.
B: It does, but the sign says it’s a college.
A: The entrance looks expensive.
B: Yes. We shouldn’t identify the place from its appearance alone.
Listening checks
Listen to each extract or open its transcript. These three questions have a separate score.
Mastery quiz
Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.
Use it in your own words
Speaking 1
Describe two places with adjectives after looks or seems.
Reveal a possible response
The café looks small. The library seems quiet.
Success check: Use adjectives directly.
Speaking 2
Make two comparisons with like and noun phrases.
Reveal a possible response
That sounds like a good plan. The building looks like a museum.
Success check: Use articles where needed.
Put it all together
Describe an unfamiliar place, give an impression and then correct it using a sign or supplied fact.
Reveal a possible response
It looks like a hotel, and the entrance seems expensive. But the sign says it’s an art school.
Success check: Distinguish appearance from confirmed information.
Take it with you
I can distinguish an adjective description from a noun-phrase comparison.