Like means similar to and takes a noun, pronoun or -ing; as takes a subject and verb, appears in as usual, as you know and do as you like, and as + noun means in the role of, which is not the same as like + noun.
A like = similar to
Like means similar to, the same as. Being a preposition, it takes a noun, a pronoun or an -ing form after it.
Sometimes like means for example; such as works too.
- What a gorgeous house! It's like a castle. (not as a castle)
- Careful, the floor's just been mopped. It's like walking on ice.
- Ugh, another grey day. I can't stand weather like this. (not as this)
- "What's that noise?" "It sounds like a cat stuck up a tree."
- I love water sports, like kayaking, surfing and paddleboarding.
- I love water sports, such as kayaking and surfing.
B as + subject + verb
As means in the same manner as, or in the same state as. It is used with subject + verb. Like is also used this way in everyday speech.
But before a noun or pronoun, only like: like this, never as this.
We say as usual, as always, and the same as.
- I didn't touch anything. I left everything as it was.
- I left everything like it was.
- You should have folded it as I showed you.
- You should have folded it like this. (not as this)
- You're late, as usual.
- As always, Nick was the last to arrive.
- Your trainers are the same as mine. (not the same like)
C do as you like; as you know
After do, as means what: do as you like. Fixed phrases include as you know, as I said, as I thought, as she predicted. Like is unusual here, except in like I said.
- You can do as you like.
- They did as they promised.
- As you know, it's Mum's birthday next week.
- Andy didn't get the job, as he'd predicted.
- As I mentioned on Monday, I'm sure we can find a solution.
- Like I mentioned on Monday, I'm sure we can find a solution.
D as + noun and like + noun
As + noun means in the position of, in the form of: it is what you are. Like + noun means similar to it: you are not one.
As a taxi driver, I spend my working life in a car. (It's my job.)
Everyone in the family wants a lift. I'm like a taxi driver. (I'm not one, but I might as well be.)
- As a taxi driver, I spend my working life in a car.
- Everyone wants a lift. I'm like a taxi driver.
- Years ago I worked as a postman.
- Words like cook and dance work as both verbs and nouns.
- Paris is great as a weekend break, but I couldn't live there.
- The news came as a terrible shock.
Exercises
117.1 Some of these sentences need like, not as. Write OK, or write the correct sentence.
Ugh, another grey day. I can't stand weather as this.
Ugh, another grey day. I can't stand weather like this.
Ugh, another grey day. I can't stand weather like this.
You should have folded it as I showed you.
OK
You should have folded it as I showed you.
Do you think Callum looks as his dad?
Do you think Callum looks like his dad?
He drives me mad. I can't stand people as him.
He drives me mad. I can't stand people like him.
Why didn't you set it up as the manual says?
Why didn't you set it up as the manual says?
As her mother, Katie has a lovely singing voice.
Like her mother, Katie has a lovely singing voice.
He never stops talking. Sitting next to him is as being stuck next to a radio.
He never stops talking. Sitting next to him is like being stuck next to a radio.
I preferred the kitchen as it was, before we redid it.
I preferred the kitchen as it was, before we redid it.
I'll ring you tomorrow as usual, all right?
I'll ring you tomorrow as usual, all right?
She's a brilliant swimmer. She swims as a fish.
She's a brilliant swimmer. She swims like a fish.
117.2 Match each sentence with the one that follows it.
I can't make your birthday meal.c
I can't make your birthday meal. As you know, I'm on holiday then.
Mia's plan sounds sensible.
Mia's plan sounds sensible. Let's do as she says.
I really need a new job.
I really need a new job. As I keep saying, I'm bored stiff.
You park on double yellow lines all the time.
You park on double yellow lines all the time. You'll get a ticket, as I keep warning you.
It's your decision, not mine.
It's your decision, not mine. Do as you think best.
The café was full when we got there.
The café was full when we got there. It was heaving, as I'd guessed.
117.3 Complete the sentences with like or as and one of these: a castle, an oven, an amateur, a lifeguard, a church, a leaving present, spring, a teenager.
a castlean ovenan amateura lifeguarda churcha leaving presentspringa teenager
Their new house is enormous. It's like a castle.
Their new house is enormous. It's like a castle.
Open a window. This office is .
Open a window. This office is like an oven.
I've been painting for years, but I still paint .
I've been painting for years, but I still paint like an amateur.
Marion spent one summer working at the lido.
Marion spent one summer working as a lifeguard at the lido.
What's that tall building with the spire? It looks .
What's that tall building with the spire? It looks like a church.
My colleagues gave me this pen when I retired.
My colleagues gave me this pen as a leaving present when I retired.
It's so mild for January. It feels .
It's so mild for January. It feels like spring.
He's forty-five, but he dresses .
He's forty-five, but he dresses like a teenager.
117.4 Put in like or as. Sometimes either is possible.
We heard a sound like a cat howling.
We heard a sound like a cat howling.
I wish I had a bike yours.
I wish I had a bike like yours.
Nadia has been working a receptionist since March.
Nadia has been working as a receptionist since March.
I bumped into Kevin on Saturday. He was full of jokes, always.
I bumped into Kevin on Saturday. He was full of jokes, as always.
You spend hours on things scrolling through your phone.
You spend hours on things like scrolling through your phone.
you can imagine, we were shattered after such a long journey.
As you can imagine, we were shattered after such a long journey.
Gran showed us photos of the street it looked in the 1960s.
Gran showed us photos of the street as it looked in the 1960s.
My neighbour's house is crammed with curiosities. It's a museum.
My neighbour's house is crammed with curiosities. It's like a museum.
In some countries, Japan, India and Australia, traffic drives on the left.
In some countries, like Japan, India and Australia, traffic drives on the left.
The menu hasn't changed at all. It's the same last year.
The menu hasn't changed at all. It's the same as last year.
Nobody else I know thinks the way you do. There's nobody quite you.
Nobody else I know thinks the way you do. There's nobody quite like you.
The news that they're getting married came a complete surprise to me.
The news that they're getting married came as a complete surprise to me.
This tea is awful. It tastes dishwater.
This tea is awful. It tastes like dishwater.
Suddenly there was a terrific bang. It was a bomb going off.
Suddenly there was a terrific bang. It was like a bomb going off.
At the moment I'm stacking shelves. It's not exciting, but it's fine a stopgap.
At the moment I'm stacking shelves. It's not exciting, but it's fine as a stopgap.
Brian is a student, most of his friends.
Brian is a student, like most of his friends.