English Grammar for ESL learners
LIKE - AS
How and when they are used.
It's not always easy for learners to know when to use 'like' and 'as'. Here are some guidelines.
- Like
Like is a preposition, used before a noun or pronoun, to say that two things are similar.
They behave or operate in the same way.
- In his job he works like a slave.
- The children swim like fish.
- The boy runs like a hare.
- I slept like a baby.
- As
As, as a preposition, before a noun or pronoun, is used to refer to jobs or functions,
the role of a person or the use of something.
- My father worked as an accountant.
- Caroline was employed as a teacher.
- The author is respected as a writer.
- He used a saucer as an ashtray.
- Compare
- I am your friend, and as your
friend I advise you to be careful.
= It is my role as a friend to warn you. - I don't know you, but like your
friend, I advise you to be careful.
= I think the same way as your friend. I am like your friend in that respect.
- I am your friend, and as your
friend I advise you to be careful.
LIKE and AS are also used as below:
Like | |
As a verb meaning ‘enjoy’. |
• Sam likes chocolate. / Children
like milk. • I like going to the beach. / She likes getting up early. |
As a noun: the ‘like’ (=similar types) |
• I enjoy classical music but I prefer jazz, rock and
the like. • You’re not going to associate with the likes of him! |
As an adjective meaning ‘similar’ |
• They’re as like as two peas in a pod. (= as similar as) • The two experts were of like mind. (= of similar mind) • We responded in like manner. (=in a similar way) |
In spoken English, ‘like’ can be used as a conjunction connecting two clauses. *NB: Considered incorrect in traditional grammar books, so best avoided in academic writing. |
• He acted like
he owned the place. (= as if) • Nobody can sing like you do.(= the same way as) • Like I said, you’re welcome to join us for lunch. (=as I said) |
As | |
As an adverb - ‘just like’ |
• She was extremely polite,
as always. • The ‘h’ in ‘heir’ is silent, as in ‘hour’. |
As a conjunction -connection two clauses - meaning ‘while’ - meaning ‘although’ - meaning ‘the way in which’ - meaning ‘because’ or ‘since’* (*use carefully to avoid any confusion) |
• It's very expensive, as you know. • The phone rang as I was watching television. (=while) • Tired as he was he still finished the race.(although) • We left the room as it was. (the way in which) • Julie may need help as she’s new to the job. (=because) |
Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.