\u2018As\u2019 and \u2018like\u2019 are two little words that can cause all manner of problems. The reason? Because very occasionally they can be used the same way, but the vast majority of the time, despite having similar meanings, grammatically they must be used quite differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few cases in point:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As <\/em>I said before, we are not going to change the price.<\/p>
Like<\/em> I said before, we are not going to change the price.<\/p>
= the same meaning\/the same grammatical construction<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
As <\/em>my father was before me, I am a pilot.<\/p>
I\u2019m a pilot, like<\/em> my father.<\/p>
= the same meaning (more or less) \/ but completely different grammatical constructions<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
He looks as if\/though<\/em> he hasn\u2019t slept.<\/p>
He looks like<\/em> he hasn\u2019t slept.<\/p>
= the same meaning (but we must use as if\/though<\/em>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t order pizza as<\/em> I had also had pizza for lunch.<\/p>
I really like<\/em> pizza, though.<\/p>
= totally different meanings<\/p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
I love a lot of Tom Cruise\u2019s movies, such as<\/em> Top Gun.<\/p>
I love a lot of Tom Cruise\u2019s movies, like<\/em> Top Gun.<\/p>
= although people \u2018say\u2019 both of these things, like is actually incorrect here, because it means similar to, not an example of.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Now you can see where the confusion comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, with an appreciation of the different meanings of the two words (and adherence to the correct grammatical construction), it\u2019s easy to move past any mistakes with \u2018as\u2019 and \u2018like\u2019. Here is all you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018As\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As can be used in five distinct ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1)<\/strong> As an example of something<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As<\/em> a teacher, I understand the difficulties of any education system. (I am an example of a teach = I am that thing!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We saw all of the most important sights, such as<\/em> the Colosseum. (The Colosseum was an example of one of the sites we saw).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2)<\/strong> In reference to something<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As<\/em> you said, it\u2019s a difficult thing to do. (that\u2019s what you said)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n
3)<\/strong> To compare two things that are not the same<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
He looked as if\/though<\/em> he had seen a ghost. (something similar to that, but obviously not that exactly!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That bag is the same as<\/em> mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She\u2019s not as tall as<\/em> my sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4)<\/strong> At the same time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As<\/em> I was leaving, she was arriving.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
5)<\/strong> Because \/ the reason for something<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t call as<\/em> I didn\u2019t want to wake you up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Like\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Like can be used in three distinct ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1)<\/strong> To compare two things that are not the same<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You look like<\/em> you have seen a ghost. ((something similar to that, but obviously not that exactly!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is just like<\/em> her sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2)<\/strong> To be in favor of something<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I like<\/em> pizza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3)<\/strong> In reference to something<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Like<\/em> you said, it\u2019s a difficult thing to do. (that\u2019s what you said)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4)<\/strong> As an example of something<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Try to do some exercise, like<\/em> walking. (it doesn\u2019t have to be exactly that!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When \u2018as\u2019 and \u2018like\u2019 mean the same thing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So, here are some examples of sentences using \u2018as\u2019 and \u2018like\u2019 where the meaning is the same (although not necessarily the grammatical construction of the sentence).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you said, it\u2019s good fun. \/ Like you said, it\u2019s good fun.<\/p>
You should go somewhere interesting, such as Vietnam. \/ You should go somewhere interesting, like Vietnam.<\/p>
He looks as if\/though he\u2019s going to fall asleep. \/ He looks like he going to fall asleep.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018As\u2019 and \u2018like\u2019 are two little words that can cause all manner of problems. The reason? Because very occasionally they can be used the same way, but the vast majority of the time, despite having similar meanings, grammatically they must be used quite differently. Here are a few cases in point: As I said before, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[572],"tags":[546,468,581,571],"class_list":["post-1329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vocabulary","tag-english-as-a-second-language","tag-english-learning","tag-grammar-rules","tag-vocabulary-enhancement"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Important Differences Between Using \u2018As\u2019 and \u2018Like\u2019 - Linguix Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/linguix.com\/blog\/important-differences-between-using-as-and-like\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Important Differences Between Using \u2018As\u2019 and \u2018Like\u2019\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u2018As\u2019 and \u2018like\u2019 are two little words that can cause all manner of problems. The reason? Because very occasionally they can be used the same way, but the vast majority of the time, despite having similar meanings, grammatically they must be used quite differently. 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