How to Use Like in Sentences?
Like = ‘similar to’, ‘the same as’ You cannot use as in this way:
Example
What a beautiful house! It’s like a palace. (not as a palace)
‘What does Sara do?’ ‘She’s a teacher, like me.’ (not as me)
It’s raining again. I hate weather like this. (not as this)
Be careful! The floor has been polished. It’s like walking on ice. (not as walking)
In these sentences, like is a preposition. So it is followed by a noun (like a palace), a pronoun (like me / like this) or –ing (like walking)
Use of Like & As in Sentences
As can also be a preposition, but the meaning is different from like. Compare:
Sue Casey is the manager of a company. As the manager, she has to make many important decisions.
(As the manager = in her position as the manager.)
Mary Stone is the assistant manager. Like the manager (Sue Casey), she also has to make many important decisions.
(Like the manager = similar to the manager)
How to Use As in Sentences?
As (preposition) = in the position of, in the form of etc. :
Example
A few years ago I worked as a taxi driver. (not like a taxi driver)
We haven’t got a car, so we use the garage as a workshop.
Many words, for example ‘work’ and ‘rain’, can be used as verbs or nouns.
London is fine as a place to visit, but I wouldn’t like to live there.
The news of the tragedy came as a great shock.
Use of Like or As in Sentences – Exercises
A. Put in like or as. Sometimes either word is possible.
- I wish I had a car _______ yours.
- We heard a noise _______ a baby crying.
- Your English is very fluent. I wish I could speak _______ you.
- We saw Kevin last night. He was very cheerful, ________ always.
- Sally has been working ________ a waitress for the last two months.
- Don’t take my advice if you don’t want to. You can do ________ you like.
- You waste too much time doing things ________ sitting in cafes all day.
- You’re different from the other people I know. I don’t know anyone _________ you.
- We don’t need all the bedrooms in the house, so we use one of them _______ a study.
- You don’t need to change your clothes. You can go out _______ you are.
B. Put in like or as.
- This tea is awful. It tastes _______ water.
- _______ her father, Catherine has a very good voice.
- I think I prefer this room _______ it was before we decorated it.
- _______ you can imagine, we were very tired after such a long journey.
- My neighbour’s house is full of lots of interesting things. It’s ________ a museum.
- The news that Sue and Gary were getting married came _________ a complete surprise to me.
- At t the moment I’ve got a temporary job in a bookshop. It’s OK _________ a temporary job, but I wouldn’t like to do it permanently.
- While we were on holiday, we spent most of our time doing energetic things ________ sailing, water skiing and swimming.
C. Complete the sentences using like or as +the following.
| a beginner | a palace |
| a child | winter |
| blocks of ice | a birthday present |
| a church | a tourist guide |
- This house is beautiful. It’s___________________________________________________
- My feet are really cold. They’re______________________________________________
- I’ve been playing tennis for years, but I still play____________________________
- Marion once had a part-time job____________________________________________
- I wonder what that building with the tower is. It looks______________________
- My brother gave me this watch____________________________ a long time ago.
- It’s very cold for the middle of summer. It’s_________________________________
- He’s 22 years old, but he sometimes behaves_______________________________