Using "as" and "like"

Do you know how to use like and as?

Look at these examples to see how as and like are used.

• I worked as an actor for two years.

• I went home early as I felt ill.

• He looks as if he hasn't slept.

• As you know, this is the third time I've had to complain.

• He looks like his dad.

• She's like a sister to me.

• Try to do something relaxing, like reading a book or having a bath.

Explanation

As and like are prepositions or conjunctions. The prepositions as and like have different meanings. As + noun means 'in the role of', like + noun means 'similar to' or 'in the same way as'.

• As your father, I'll help you as much as I can.

As and like are often confused since they can both be used for comparisons. There are, however, important differences.

Making comparisons

as + adjective + as and as much as

We often use the structure as + adjective + as or as much as to say if something has, or doesn't have, the same amount of that quality as something else.

• She loves curry as much as I do.

• He's not as tall as his brother.

• It's not as expensive as the other hotel.

• That dog is as big as that child!

You also have to use as in the expression the same as.

• Your phone is the same as mine.

• Texting is not the same as speaking in person.

like + noun

In the following comparisons, like is followed by a noun or a pronoun to say that two things are similar.

• He's like a father to me.

• She's acting like a child.

• It's like a burger but with big mushrooms instead of bread.

• There are lots of people like us.

It is also common to make comparisons using like with verbs of the senses.

• She looks like her mother.

• It sounds like a cat.

• Nothing tastes like homemade lemonade.

• It smells like medicine.

• It feels like cotton.

as if/as though + clause

As if and as though can be used to compare a real situation to an imaginary situation. They are followed by a clause (a subject and verb).

• You look as if you've seen a ghost.

• I felt as if I was floating above the ground.

• You talk as though we're never going to see each other again.

Giving examples

We can say like or such as to give examples.

• You could try a team sport like football, basketball or hockey.

• You should take something soft, such as a towel, to lie on.

Talking about a job or function

We can use as + noun to talk about a job or function.

• I worked as a shop assistant for two years.

• He used his coat as a blanket to keep warm.

as to connect two phrases

as can be used as a conjunction to connect two phrases. It can have different meanings.

as = 'because'

• All the tickets were sold out as we got there too late.

• As the road was closed, I had to park on the next street.

as = 'while' or 'during the time that'

• She called as I was getting out of the bath.

• As they were arriving, we were leaving.

as = 'in the way that'

• As we expected, it started to rain.

• As you know, classes restart on 15 January.

• As I said, I think this project will be a challenge.

** Note that in informal speech, people sometimes say like for 'in the way that'.

• Like I said, I didn't know her.