What's The Difference Between LIKE and AS | How to Use Them Correctly When Comparing Two Things or Actions?
Like vs As
Do you know how to use LIKE and AS correctly in English writing and speaking? If you don't, let's know how to use them correctly.
When we compare things or actions to other things or actions to find similarities, we should use the words LIKE and AS in the following ways:
The syntax would be like this:
Like: Like + Noun [When the word 'Like' is used as a preposition, It is always followed by a Noun or a Pronoun.]
As: As + Clause [When the word 'As' is used as a Conjunction, It should be followed by a clause when comparing two things or actions to find similarities.]
Let's understand this by taking an example,
1) John eats meat like a lion. [Here the word 'Like' is used as a preposition which is followed by the noun 'lion'.]
But,
John eats meat as a lion. [This sentence is grammatically incorrect. We should use LIKE instead of AS here.]
But you can write the above sentence using AS like this:
John eats meat as a lion does. [Correct]
Let's take another example,
Do as I say, not as I do. [Correct]
But,
Do like I say, not like I do. [Grammatically Incorrect]
One More Example,
As iron, Mercury is a metal. [Incorrect]
The Correct One is:
As is iron, Mercury is a metal. [Correct]
Or,
Like iron, Mercury is a metal. [Correct]
* Know More Uses of AS in English Writing and Speaking. [Click To Know More]
Now have a look at the sentences below:
1) She treats me as I want/would like to be treated.
2) She treats me like a dog.
3) You sound just like your mom. or You sound just as your mom does.
4) I prepared this report exactly as you instructed.
5) Mike Tyson can't fight now as he used to (fight).
6) This metal is shining like a diamond. or This metal is shining as a diamond does.
7) I did as you said.
8) Do as you like. [Not: Do like you like.]
You can say,
Eat like a lion. or Eat as you like. or Eat as a lion does.
9) I'll do as I wish. or I'll do as you say.
10) I did as you told me.
11) He sings as I do. or He sings like me.
But, He sings like I do. [Grammatically Incorrect]
On the other hand,
He sings like I. [Incorrect]
He sings as me. [Incorrect]
12) He looks like Oscar Wilde. [Correct]
But,
He looks as Oscar Wilde. [Incorrect]
13) The little girl, like her mother, has long hair. [Correct]
But,
The little girl, as her mother, has long hair. [Incorrect]
14) No one makes chocolate cakes as my mother does. [Correct]
But,
No one makes chocolate cakes like my mother does. [Grammatically Incorrect]
Let's Look At Another Example,
15) There are lots of people like us. [Correct]
But,
There are lots of people as us. [Incorrect]
16) She is acting like a child. [Correct]
But,
She is acting as a child. [Incorrect]
* A conjunction can join two clauses but a preposition can't. A preposition is always followed by a Noun or Pronoun.
And that's why,
We can't say: She behaves as a child. [Incorrect]
We should say: She behaves like a child. or She behaves as a child does.
Or,
John behaves like me. or Tom behaves as I do. [as I do = as I behave]
And,
She sings like me. or She sings as I do.
Now, Look At The Examples Below:
He performed like me. [Correct]
He performed as I did. [Correct]
He performed as we expected. [Correct]
But,
He performed like we expected. [Incorrect]
Tom looks like me. [Correct]
But,
Tom looks as me. [Incorrect]
* AS can also be used as a Preposition.
For Example, He works here as an MD. or Tom works here as a private tutor.
* Different Uses of AS [Know More]
Many Native English speakers mix these two words all the time, especially when they are talking in everyday life. They use them interchangeably. You can also use LIKE instead of AS and vice versa while speaking in English. To some extent, It's acceptable, but not grammatically correct. While writing in English, especially official or formal writing, you should use LIKE and AS correctly.
For example, [In informal speech, people sometimes use Like instead of As] Like I said I didn't hurt him. Though the sentence is grammatically not correct. The correct one is: As I said I didn't hurt him.
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