Page 343 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

5 How long are you here for?
Questions like How long are you here for? refer to the future. Compare: How long are you here for? - Until the end of next week.
How long have you been here for? - Since last Monday.
6 comparative
The comparative of for a long time is (/or) longer.
I hope you'll stay longer next time. (NOT ••• JtJr a 18ftget' time.)
For no longer. see 379.
Much. many and far are also more common in questions and negative clauses (see 357 and 200).
331 look
1 link verb (= 'seem')
Look can mean 'seem' or 'appear'. In this case it is a link verb (see 328) and can be followed by adjectives or nouns.
You look angry - what's the matter? (NOT Y8lt 166k tmgrily . ..) I looked a real fool when I fell in the river.
The garden looks a mess.
To talk about a temporary appearance, we can use simple or progressive forms; there is not much difference of meaning.
You look I You're looking very unhappy. What's the matter?
Look can be followed by like or as i/(see 74). Progressive forms are not usually used in this case.
She looks like her mother.
It looks as ifit's going to rain. (NOT Jt's 166king tt3 if. ..)
She looks as ifshe's dreaming.
She looks like she's dreaming. (informal) (NOT She 166/es like dreaming.)
Look like ...ing ... (informal) is used with future reference in British English. It looks like being a wet night. (= It looks as if it will be ...)
Look + infinitive is also sometimes used in informal British English. The team look to repeat their success. (= It looks as if they will ...)
2 ordinary verb =(,direct one's eyes')
When look means 'direct one's eyes', it is used with adverbs, not adjectives. Before an object, a preposition is necessary (usually at).
The boss looked at me angrily. (NOT The b6SS i66keti at me angry'.) A preposition is not used when there is no object.
Look! It's changing colour. (NOT w6k at! .. .)
3 not followed by if
Before ifor whether, we use see or look to see, not look.
Could you see ifAnn's in the kitchen? (NOT C8ttlti ytJtt 166k ijArm:s ill the
kitchen?)
What are you doing? - I'm looking to see whether these batteries are OK
(NOT {'m 166king whether. ..)
•
look 331
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