Like, Look like, Be like

Like can be used

• as verb,  to talk about tastes
• as a preposition, with look and be to talk about appearance and ask for descriptions.

Verb: to like

• The verb to like is used to talk about tastes, what we enjoy or prefer.
  • What sport does Peter like? He likes tennis.
  • What’s your favourite food? I like Italian food.

Look like is used to ask for and give an opinion about appearance.

• • What does Peter look like?
    He’s tall, with dark hair, and he wears glasses.

Be like is used to ask for and give a general description.

• • What is Julie like?
    She is reliable, pleasant and helpful. She is like a friend.

To sum up:

♦ We use like to talk about tastes and preferences.
♦ We use look like to describe physical appearance.
♦ We use be like to describe a person’s character.