AS---LIKE (grammar tip)

 

 

AS can be  a preposition meaning in the capacity of / in the function of like in the sentence

 

ex: He works as a clerk.

 

but it is usually a conjunction of manner and goes therefore followed by a verb form,

 

ex: When in Rome do as Romans do.

 

It also appears  in comparative structures:

 

ex: She is as busy as a bee.

 

In the group such as   it means like:

 

Ex: There are different ways of travelling such as (=like) walking, flying or driving.

 

 

 

 

LIKE

 

Is a preposition and goes therefore followed by a noun. It expresses similarity:

 

ex: She  feels like a rolling stone (=in the same way as)

      It was like a dream (=similar to)

 

Like is a preposition and is therefore followed by pronouns in the object form.

 

ex: They said they didn't want people like me in that group.

 

It can also be followed by a verb, in the -ing form

 

Ex: There's nothing like fishing from a boat

 

In fact, when we want to ask about the description of something we use

 

WHAT IS something  LIKE ? which is quite different from

HOW is something /someone ? where we become interestedin personal state, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

AS or LIKE ?

 

1. There's no business___________show buisiness.

a) as

b) like

 

2. ___________a lawyer, I would advise caution

a) like

b) as

 

3. I once worked _______a bus conductor.

a) as

b) like

 

4. This motorway is___________a car park.

a) like

b) as

 

5. People________the Joneses always copy us.

a) as

b) like

 

6. ___________it was getting cold, we decided to go into a cafeteria.

a) like

b) as

 

7. There's nothing ____________fishing in the sea. It's so relaxing

a) as

b) like

 

8. Mary weighs the same____________her brother.

a) like

b) as

 

9. She is always as busy _____________a bee. She never has time.

a) like

b) as

 

10. ________he opened the door, he discovered that he had a nice visit.

a) like

b) as

 

 

online quiz & key at:

http://english.baladre.org/sedaviwebfront/aslike.htm