Verbs of the senses:

Verb + as if + clause He looked as if he'd seen a ghost It sounds as if you're having a bad day I feel as if I've been awake for days
You can also use

Look Feel Smell

Sound Taste Seem

like or as though: It smells as if/like/as though

dinner's burning Verb + adjective You look bored That smells delicious This music sounds awful These shoes feel too tight My soup tastes a bit spicy She seems tired

Verb + like + noun You look a lot like your brother Wait! That sounded like a gunshot! This meat tastes like beef, not duck I feel like a failure This place smells like an ashtray Malcolm seems like a nice man

Seem
Used when so/st gives an impression of doing/being something

Through a mix of the senses and what we know Not only through one sense e.g. visual

You look tired: I get this impression from your face

You seem tired: I get this impression from the general way you're behaving (voice, actions etc...)

Compare smell/taste of and smell/taste like: It tastes/smells of basil (It has the smell/taste of basil) It tastes/smells like basil (It has a similar taste/smell, but probably isn't
Emily Clarke, 2013