Common mistakes: How does it look like?

Today's lesson is a common mistake. In English we can say:

• How does it look?

• What does it look like?

But we CAN'T say:

• How does it look like?

When we talk about people, we usually use 'what does she look like?' if we want a description. This is
often when we don't know the person.

• A: What does your mother look like?

• B: She is tall, with short brown hair and she wears glasses.

When we are thinking about if someone is beautiful or not, or we're talking about the expression on
their face, we usually use 'how does she look?'. In this case, we usually know the person. We don't
need to hear a description. We can also use 'how does it look?' for objects or places, especially when
there has been a change.

• I've just had a haircut. How do I look?

• How did Lucy look in her new dress?
• How did he look when he saw the mouse?
• We painted the kitchen. How does it look? Do you like it?

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Let's review! Choose 'what ... look like?' or 'how ... look?'.

1. I don't know your brother. ________________ does he ________________?

2. I just got a new dress. ________________ do I ________________?

3. We think we saw your new flatmate. ________________ does she ________________? Does

she have long hair?

4. Police: ________________ did the thief ________________? Please tell us height and hair

colour.

5. ________________ does your sister ________________ now she has cut all her hair off?

6. ________________ did your mother ________________ when she saw you? What a surprise

for her!

7. ________________ does James ________________? I haven't met him.

8. ________________ does your daughter ________________? Does she wear glasses?

9. ________________ does the flat ________________? I spent the whole weekend cleaning it.

10. ________________ did David ________________ when you saw him? Was he tired?

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Answers

1. I don't know your brother. What does he look like?

2. I just got a new dress. How do I look?
3. We think we saw your new flatmate. What does she look like? Does she have long hair?
4. Police: What did the thief look like? Please tell us height and hair colour.
5. How does your sister look now she has cut all her hair off?
6. How did your mother look when she saw you? What a surprise for her!
7. What does James look like? I haven't met him.
8. What does your daughter look like? Does she wear glasses?
9. How does the flat look? I spent the whole weekend cleaning it.
10. How did David look when you saw him? Was he tired?

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May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.