As Like
Hi, so what's the difference between "as" and "like?"
Are you confused as to when to use them?
Both can be used to compare, but do you never know which one to use?
Maybe in your language there is only one word for this.
Today, I am going to help you to understand "as" and "like" and explain when to use them,
so that you never mix them up again.
Firstly let's look at "as".
It is used to talk about a job or a function.
If you can say " in the role of" in the sentence
and it makes sense then use "as."
For example: I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar. ( throw back to the 80s!)
Here, the waitress, is a job, so it's "as."
Or
He used his shoe as a hammer to hang the picture up.
The function of the shoe was to act as a hammer so we use "as."
As can also be used as a conjunction in a sentence.
This means that it is used to link 2 clauses
in a sentence when comparing things.
The "as" clause has a subject and a verb.
For example: She became a lawyer, (first clause) as her mother had before her. (second clause)
The "as" is linking the two clauses and comparing them.
The conjunction or the linking word is followed by "mother", the noun and "had" the verb.
In some comparisons, the structure ‘as + adjective + as’ is often used when comparing something
that is equal.
For example: He is as tall as his brother.
This means that they are the same height.
And if something is unequal we can equally use "not as + adjective + as."
For example:
Travelling by train is not as fast as travelling by plane.
There are also some expressions that always use "as."
Firstly, "As you know, I'm going on holiday tomorrow."
Or, "I booked that new restaurant, as you suggested."
Or, "As we agreed, I'll pay you tomorrow."
And finally,
Your car is the same as ours. It could be the same as ours, the same as mine, the same as yours.
So how about "like?"
When using "like" in comparisons it means it's similar to something.
It is a preposition and is followed
by a noun or a pronoun.
For example:
"You slept like a baby." Here "baby" is the noun.
and it means you slept similar to a baby or similar to how a baby would sleep.
Or, "My sister is not much like me."
Me here is the pronoun, and you are comparing yourself to your sister and you are not the same.
Finally "like" and "as if"/"as though" can all be used to make comparisons
and they all mean the same.
For example, you can say.
"You look like you've seen a ghost."
Or, "You look as if you've seen a ghost."
Or, "You look as though you've seen a ghost."
These all mean the same and they can be interchanged.
So, now it's your turn...
Fill in the blanks with either "as" or "like."
My grandmother worked .... a nurse during the Second World War.
Here, we use "as" because this is describing the role of my grandmother,
the job she did. So we use "as".
Ryan's coat is the same ….. mine.
"As," because this is an expression, the same as ours, the same as yours, the same as his.
You sound just ….. your Mum when you say that.
"Like," here means similar to and is followed by a noun.
So, you're very similar to your Mum.
Although we've only just met, I feel …..........I've known you all my life.
Here, you could use, "as if", "as though" or "like." All three work and mean the same.
Using the window …....an exit, she managed to escape.
Here we use "as" because it is "in the role of" an exit or the function of the window
was to provide an exit.
Congratulations, you now know the difference between "as" and "like" when comparing in English.
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As Like