12.8 Showing Similarity with Like and Alike

COMPREHENSION Based on the reading, write T for true or F for false. 1. A soccer team and a football team don’t have the same number of players. 2. It is common to see tackling in a football game. 3. Football players need padding to protect their bodies.

THINK ABOUT IT Discuss the questions with a partner or in a small group.

1. Imagine that a soccer player wants to start playing football. Which rules or aspects of the game do you think could be most challenging to learn? 2. Which game do you prefer to watch? Why? Which would you prefer to play? Why?

We can show that two things are similar (or not) with like and alike.

EXAMPLES Pattern A: A soccer player looks like a rugby player. A soccer player doesn’t look like a football player. Pattern B: A soccer player and a rugby player look alike. A soccer player and a football player don’t look alike. Pattern A: He is like his brother in some ways. They both love soccer. He is not like his sister. They have different interests. Pattern B: He and his brother are alike in some ways. He and his sister are not alike.

EXPLANATION Pattern A: Noun 1 + verb + like + noun 2.

Pattern B: Noun 1 and noun 2 + verb + alike.

Pattern A: Noun 1 + be like + noun 2.

Pattern B: Noun 1 and noun 2 + be alike.

Notes: 1. We use the sense perception verbs (look, sound, smell, taste, feel, and seem) with like and alike to show an outward similarity or difference. 2. We can use other verbs with like/alike: act, sing, dress, think, etc. A soccer player doesn’t dress like a football player. A soccer player and a football player don’t dress alike. 3. We use be like/be alike to show an inward similarity or difference. Erik is like his teammates. He’s a strong climber. (be like = an inward similarity)

GRAMMAR IN USE Questions with What + like or What + look like don’t ask for comparisons. They ask for a description:

What is he like? (asks about personality) He’s funny and really smart.

What is it like? (asks for a description) It’s challenging.

What does he look like? (asks for a physical description) He’s tall with brown hair. When Who is used instead of What in these questions, similarities are asked for:

Who is he like? He’s like his brother. They are both athletic.

Who does he look like? He looks like his father. They are both tall and handsome.

are alike is like don’t look like look like aren’t alike

dress alike think alike look alike am not like sound like

1. A: You’re so tall. You look like a basketball player.

B: Everyone who sees me says the same thing.

2. A: wrestling

B: In some ways, they boxing?

because they fight in a ring. But in many ways they’re different.

3. A: My brother and I in some ways.

B: How?

A: We’re both very athletic.

4. A: Soccer players football players at all.

B: Football players are much bigger. And they wear completely different uniforms.

5. A: The swimming competition and the diving competition at the Olympics are very different.

B: You’re right. They at all.

6. A: You your brother.

B: Everybody says that. We both talk about our favorite soccer team all the time.

7. A: My nieces are identical twins. They . Here’s a picture of them.

B: Oh, how cute. They’re wearing the same outfit.

A: Yes. They like to

The other doesn't. . But they in all ways. One loves sports.

8. A: I have a great idea. Let’s take the day off and go to a baseball game.

B: I had the exact same idea. You and I .

9. A: My sister is a great swimmer.

B: What about you?

A: When it comes to swimming, I my sister at all. I’m afraid of the water.

B: But you in some ways. You’re both interested in mountain climbing.

ABOUT YOU Compare yourself to someone in your family or compare two members of your family using the following words. Share your answers with a partner.

1. look like I don't look like my mother. She's tall. I'm very short.

2. be like

3. be alike

4. sing like

5. think alike

6. dress like

7. act like

EXERCISE 17 Fill in the blanks in the conversation. Use different methods of comparison from this unit. Use context clues to help you.

A: I heard that you have a twin brother. Do you and your brother look alike

1.

B: No. He

2.

A: But you’re twins. look

3. me at all.

B: We’re fraternal twins. That’s different from identical twins. We’re not even

He’s not

A: But you’re

5.

6. I am. He’s 5’8”. I’m 6’2”.

in some ways, aren’t you?

B: No. We’re completely different. I’m athletic and I’m on the high school football team, but David hates

sports. He’s a much

4. height.

7. student than I am. He gets all A’s. He’s more

8. our mother, who loves to read and learn new things, and I

9. our

father, who’s athletic and loves to build things. Also, I’m outgoing, but he’s very shy. And we don’t dress

10. at all. He likes to wear neat, conservative clothes, but I prefer torn jeans and

T-shirts. There’s only one similarity: over the phone, people don’t know if it’s my brother or me. We

sound

11.