What's it like?


What is the weather like today?
It's a bit cloudy but it's warm.

With a question:

What + to be + subject + like?

... you are asking for a description of something or someone. It's like saying: "tell me about ...".


N.B. like isn't a verb but a preposition.

So, What does he like? isn't the same as What is he like?

What does he like (to do in his spare time)?  - He likes travelling.

What is he like?  - He's a really nice guy but he gets impatient easily.


When the subject is a person e.g. What is your sister like?, we are usually asking about their personality.

If we specifically want to know about their appearance, we ask: What does your sister look like?

If we want to ask about someone's health, the question is: How is she?

How is she?  - She's fine now. She's feeling much better.


We can use this construction to ask for descriptions about the present, past and future:

What's it like?

What was it like?

What is it going to be like?



Use your heads to guess what the question is for the following:
  1. ... ?  - It was sunny the whole time.
  2. ... ?  -  The rooms were modern and quite comfortable. It even had a pool.
  3. ... ?  -  She's easy-going. She never tells us off if we don't do our homework. 
  4. ... ?  - They eat a lot of meat but hardly any fish. It isn't as varied as it is in Spain.
  5. ... ?  -  It was really exciting but I don't think they deserved to win.
  6. ... ?  - I find them very friendly.
  7. ... ?  - It has its charm but I suppose it'd be stressful to live there.
  8. ... ?  - Around 10 degrees tomorrow, so you should wear a warm jacket.
  9. ... ?  - I didn't understand the ending. The first one was better.
  10. ... ?  - I got As in most subjects except for Physics - I got a C in that.

Comments

Marta said…
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Graham said…
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Mario Jiménez said…
Hi Graham, i've done another exercise regarding preposition. This is my answer

1.- What is the wheather like today? It was sunny the whole time.
2.- What was the hotel like? The rooms were modern and quite comfortable. It even had a pool.
3.- What does the teacher look like? She's easy-going. She never tells us off if we don't do our homework.
4.- What is the food like abroad? They eat a lot of meat but hardly any fish. It isn't as varied as it is in Spain.
5.- What was it like? It was really exciting but I don't think they deserved to win.
6.- What is he look like? I find them very friendly.
7.- What is Madrid like to live there? It has its charm but I suppose it'd be stressful to live there.
8.- What it is going to be the wheater like tomorrw? around 10 degrees tomorrow, so you should wear a warm jacket.
9.- What was the film like? I didn't understand the ending. The first one was better.
10.- What were your qualification like? I got As in most subjects except for Physics - I got a C in that.
Graham said…
Mario,

Nice to see you using "regarding" but I think it's too formal in this context. I'd use "about".

1. the weather

3. What is the teacher like? (personality) What does she look like? = appearance

5. What was the match like? It was really exciting but I don't think they deserved to win.

6. What are the Scots like? I find them very friendly.

7. What is Madrid like to live in?

8. What is the weather going to be like tomorrow? / What will the weather be like tomorrow?

10. What were your results / grades like? I got As in most subjects except for Physics - I got a C in that.


What (to be) Subject like? is a construction worth learning.
Rafa said…
1. What was the weather like during your trip to london last week-end? It was sunny the whole time.
2. What were the rooms like at the hotel? The rooms were modern and quite comfortable. It even had a pool.
3. What is she like? She's easy-going. She never tells us off if we don't do our homework.
4.What are the preferences in eating that english people like? They eat a lot of meat but hardly any fish. It isn't as varied as it is in Spain.
5.What were the final football match like? It was really exciting but I don't think they deserved to win.
6.What are they like? I find them very friendly.
7.What is the living in Madrid like? It has its charm but I suppose it'd be stressful to live there.
8.What is it going to be the weather like tomorrow? around 10 degrees tomorrow, so you should wear a warm jacket.
9.What was the movie like? I didn't understand the ending. The first one was better.
10.What were your results like? I got As in most subjects except for Physics - I got a C in that
Graham said…
Hello Rafa,

I hope I'll hear you use this question. It's such a common thing to ask but most students avoid using it.


1. What was the weather like during your trip to London last weekend? It was sunny the whole time. 😍
2. What was the hotel like? The rooms were modern and quite comfortable. It even had a pool.
3. What is your teacher like? She's easy-going. She never tells us off if we don't do our homework.
4. What is the food like in England? They eat a lot of meat but hardly any fish. It isn't as varied as it is in Spain.
5. What was the final / match / game like? It was really exciting but I don't think they deserved to win.
6.What are the Portuguese like? I find them very friendly.
7. What is life like in Madrid? It has its charm but I suppose it'd be stressful to live there.
8. What is the weather going to be like tomorrow? around 10 degrees tomorrow, so you should wear a warm jacket.
9.What was the movie like? I didn't understand the ending. The first one was better. 😍
10.What were your results like? I got As in most subjects except for Physics - I got a C in that,😍