{"id":273397,"date":"2026-09-17T03:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T08:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/?p=273397"},"modified":"2026-09-17T03:00:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T08:00:09","slug":"uses-of-like-b2-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/ja\/blog\/uses-of-like-b2-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Mastering &#8216;Like&#8217;: Essential Uses for B2 English Learners"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"lc-answer\"><strong>\u305d\u306e\u8a00\u8449 <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> has many uses in English, but two common questions often cause confusion: <span data-no-translation>What is &#8230; like?<\/span> \u305d\u3057\u3066 <span data-no-translation>What does &#8230; like?<\/span><\/strong> The first asks for a general description of someone or something, including personality, qualities, or characteristics. The second asks about preferences, hobbies, or things someone enjoys. Additionally, <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> can describe physical appearance with verbs like <span data-no-translation>look<\/span>, \u3001\u3064\u307e\u308a <span data-no-translation>She looks like her mother.<\/span> It also functions as a preposition, meaning &#8216;similar to&#8217; or &#8216;in the manner of,&#8217; which is crucial for B2 learners to distinguish from <span data-no-translation>as<\/span>. Understanding these distinctions will help you describe people, things, and situations accurately.<\/div>\n<h2>What is the difference between &#8216;What is&#8230; like?&#8217; and &#8216;What does&#8230; like?&#8217;?<\/h2>\n<p>These two questions look similar but have very different meanings.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u5f53\u793e\u3067\u306f <span data-no-translation>What is (someone\/something) like?<\/span> to ask for a general description. This can include personality, character, qualities, or the nature of a place or situation.<\/li>\n<li>\u5f53\u793e\u3067\u306f <span data-no-translation>What does (someone) like?<\/span> to ask about preferences, interests, or things someone enjoys.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-placement\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#2B87DA,#29C4A9);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\u270d\ufe0f \u81ea\u5206\u306e\u30ec\u30d9\u30eb\u304c\u308f\u304b\u3089\u306a\u3044\uff1f<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;opacity:.95;\">\u7121\u6599\u306e\u30ec\u30d9\u30eb\u5224\u5b9a\u30c6\u30b9\u30c8\u3092\u53d7\u3051\u3066\u3001\u30b1\u30f3\u30d6\u30ea\u30c3\u30b8\u8a8d\u5b9a\u8a66\u9a13\u5b98\u304b\u3089\u3042\u306a\u305f\u306b\u5408\u308f\u305b\u305f\u30d5\u30a3\u30fc\u30c9\u30d0\u30c3\u30af\u3092\u53d7\u3051\u53d6\u308a\u307e\u3057\u3087\u3046\u3002.<\/p><a href=\"\/ja\/%e3%82%a4%e3%83%b3%e3%82%b0%e3%83%aa%e3%83%83%e3%82%b7%e3%83%a5\/%e3%82%a2%e3%82%ab%e3%83%87%e3%83%9f%e3%83%bc\/%e7%84%a1%e6%96%99%e4%bd%93%e9%a8%93\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#0A2540;color:#fff;\">\u7121\u6599\u30d7\u30ec\u30a4\u30b9\u30e1\u30f3\u30c8\u30fb\u30c6\u30b9\u30c8\u3092\u53d7\u3051\u308b<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>How do we use 'like' for physical appearance?<\/h2>\n<p>When we want to describe how someone or something looks physically, we use <span data-no-translation>look like<\/span>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This structure focuses only on external appearance.<\/li>\n<li>It is often followed by a noun or noun phrase.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>When do we use 'like' as a preposition?<\/h2>\n<p><span data-no-translation>Like<\/span> can act as a preposition, meaning 'similar to' or 'in the manner of'.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It is used to make comparisons between two things.<\/li>\n<li>It is often followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (verb + -ing).<\/li>\n<li>\u307e\u305f\u3001\u5f53\u793e\u306f <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> with sensory verbs such as <span data-no-translation>feel<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>sound<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>smell<\/span>, \u3001\u304a\u3088\u3073 <span data-no-translation>taste<\/span> to describe how something seems to our senses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<caption>Summary of &#x27;Like&#x27; Uses<\/caption>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Use of &#x27;Like&#x27;<\/th>\n<th>Meaning &amp; Example<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>What is... like?<\/span><\/td>\n<td>Asks for general description\/character.<br \/><span data-no-translation>What is the new movie like? It's exciting!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>What does... like?<\/span><\/td>\n<td>Asks for preferences\/enjoyment.<br \/><span data-no-translation>What does she like? She likes chocolate.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Look like<\/span><\/td>\n<td>Describes physical appearance.<br \/><span data-no-translation>He looks like his brother.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Like<\/span> (preposition)<\/td>\n<td>Similar to; in the manner of.<br \/><span data-no-translation>She sings like an opera star.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Feel\/Sound\/Smell\/Taste like<\/span><\/td>\n<td>Sensory comparison.<br \/><span data-no-translation>This smells like roses.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>\u4f8b<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>What's your new boss like? She's very strict but fair.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>What does your new boss like? She likes strong coffee and quiet mornings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>He looks like his father. They both have blue eyes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>The weather feels like summer today.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>That music sounds like jazz.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>This soup tastes like chicken.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>She sings like a professional.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>They ran like the wind to catch the bus.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>What was the party like? It was very lively and fun.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>What do you like doing on weekends? I like reading and hiking.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>\u7df4\u7fd2<\/h2>\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-1832\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"1832\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"FCE03 L5 GRAMMAR the uses of &#039;like&#039;\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-exam\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:#0A2540;\"><h3 style=\"color:#F2B705;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\u8a8d\u5b9a\u8a3c\u3092\u53d6\u5f97\u3059\u308b\u6e96\u5099\u306f\u3067\u304d\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;opacity:.92;\">Langcom\u306f\u3001\u30b1\u30f3\u30d6\u30ea\u30c3\u30b8\u8a66\u9a13\u3001IELTS\u3001TOEFL\u3001DELE\u3001SIELE\u3001\u304a\u3088\u3073Michigan\u306e\u8a66\u9a13\u5bfe\u7b56\u30b3\u30fc\u30b9\u3067\u3059\u3002.<\/p><a href=\"\/ja\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#F2B705;color:#0A2540;\">Langcom\u306e\u4f7f\u3044\u65b9<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>\u30b9\u30da\u30a4\u30f3\u8a9e\u8a71\u8005\u304c\u3088\u304f\u72af\u3059\u9593\u9055\u3044<\/h2>\n<p>Spanish speakers often make specific mistakes with <span data-no-translation>like<\/span>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>\u5206\u304b\u308a\u306b\u304f\u3044 <span data-no-translation>What is... like?<\/span> \u305d\u3057\u3066 <span data-no-translation>What does... like?<\/span>:<\/strong> Remember that <span data-no-translation>What is... like?<\/span> asks for a description (e.g., <span data-no-translation>What is the weather like?<\/span>), while <span data-no-translation>What does... like?<\/span> asks about preferences (e.g., <span data-no-translation>What does she like to eat?<\/span>). Do not use <span data-no-translation>What is she like to eat?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>\u4f7f\u7528\u65b9\u6cd5 <span data-no-translation>as<\/span> \uff5e\u306e\u4ee3\u308f\u308a\u306b <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> for comparisons:<\/strong> While both can compare, <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> is a preposition meaning 'similar to' (e.g., <span data-no-translation>He swims like a fish.<\/span>). <span data-no-translation>As<\/span> is often a conjunction meaning 'in the way that' (e.g., <span data-no-translation>Do as I say.<\/span>) or a preposition meaning 'in the role of' (e.g., <span data-no-translation>She works as a teacher.<\/span>). Do not say <span data-no-translation>He swims as a fish.<\/span> when you mean 'similar to'.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u4f7f\u3044\u3059\u304e <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> as a filler word:<\/strong> In informal speech, some native speakers use <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> as a filler (e.g., <span data-no-translation>It was, like, really good.<\/span>). Avoid this in formal English or when you are still learning the core uses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>\u3088\u304f\u3042\u308b\u8cea\u554f<\/h2>\n<h3>Can 'like' be used as a conjunction?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, in informal English, <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> can sometimes be used as a conjunction meaning 'as if' or 'as though'. For example, <span data-no-translation>It looks like it's going to rain.<\/span> However, in formal writing, it's better to use <span data-no-translation>as if<\/span> \u307e\u305f\u306f <span data-no-translation>as though<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the difference between 'like' and 'would like'?<\/h3>\n<p><span data-no-translation>Like<\/span> expresses general preference (e.g., <span data-no-translation>I like pizza.<\/span>). <span data-no-translation>Would like<\/span> is a polite way to say 'want' or to make an offer (e.g., <span data-no-translation>I would like a coffee, please.<\/span> \u307e\u305f\u306f <span data-no-translation>Would you like some tea?<\/span>).<\/p>\n<h3>How is 'like' tested in the B2 First exam?<\/h3>\n<p>You might see questions about describing people or situations, or comparing things, especially in Speaking Part 2 (long turn) or Writing tasks. Using <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> correctly for descriptions and comparisons shows good grammatical control and helps you express yourself clearly, which is important for higher marks.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I use 'like' to introduce examples?<\/h3>\n<p>\u306f\u3044\u3001\u3054\u5229\u7528\u3044\u305f\u3060\u3051\u307e\u3059 <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> to introduce examples in informal speech and writing, similar to <span data-no-translation>such as<\/span> \u307e\u305f\u306f <span data-no-translation>for example<\/span>. For instance, <span data-no-translation>I enjoy outdoor activities, like hiking and cycling.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The word like has many uses in English, but two common questions often cause confusion: What is &#8230; like? and What does &#8230; like? The first asks for a general description of someone or something, including personality, qualities, or characteristics. The second asks about preferences, hobbies, or things someone enjoys. Additionally, like can describe physical appearance with verbs like look, as in She looks like her mother. It also functions as a preposition, meaning &#8216;similar to&#8217; or &#8216;in the manner of,&#8217; which is crucial for B2 learners to distinguish from as. Understanding these distinctions will help you describe people, things, and situations accurately. What is the difference between &#8216;What is&#8230; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":192,"featured_media":274470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"bwfblock_default_font":"","langcom_teaches":"Uses of like","langcom_cefr":"B2","langcom_type":"grammar","langcom_faq":"[{\"q\": \"Can 'like' be used as a conjunction?\", \"a\": \"Yes, in informal English, <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> can sometimes be used as a conjunction meaning 'as if' or 'as though'. For example, <span data-no-translation>It looks like it's going to rain.<\/span> However, in formal writing, it's better to use <span data-no-translation>as if<\/span> or <span data-no-translation>as though<\/span>.\"}, {\"q\": \"What is the difference between 'like' and 'would like'?\", \"a\": \"<span data-no-translation>Like<\/span> expresses general preference (e.g., <span data-no-translation>I like pizza.<\/span>). <span data-no-translation>Would like<\/span> is a polite way to say 'want' or to make an offer (e.g., <span data-no-translation>I would like a coffee, please.<\/span> or <span data-no-translation>Would you like some tea?<\/span>).\"}, {\"q\": \"How is 'like' tested in the B2 First exam?\", \"a\": \"You might see questions about describing people or situations, or comparing things, especially in Speaking Part 2 (long turn) or Writing tasks. Using <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> correctly for descriptions and comparisons shows good grammatical control and helps you express yourself clearly, which is important for higher marks.\"}, {\"q\": \"Can I use 'like' to introduce examples?\", \"a\": \"Yes, you can use <span data-no-translation>like<\/span> to introduce examples in informal speech and writing, similar to <span data-no-translation>such as<\/span> or <span data-no-translation>for example<\/span>. For instance, <span data-no-translation>I enjoy outdoor activities, like hiking and cycling.<\/span>\"}]","_kiss_seo_title":"","_kiss_seo_excerpt":"The word like has many uses in English, but two common questions often cause confusion: What is ... like? and What does ... like?","_mwseo_canonical":"","_mwseo_keywords":"","_mwseo_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[620],"tags":[651,1127],"formats":[],"class_list":["post-273397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-b2-first-fce","tag-grammar","tag-the-uses-of-like"],"dsm_author":{"name":"\u30e9\u30a6\u30eb","avatar_url":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/nsl_avatars\/1de86ea706740d324aaef3dd8bf0843b.png","archive_link":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/ja\/blog\/author\/raulmaguinahamann\/","biodata":""},"dsm_categories":[{"term_name":"B2 First 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