Like or As

Like and as
 
Like = `similar to`, `the same as`. Note that you cannot use as in this way:
• What a beautiful house! It`s like a palace, (not `as a palace`)
• `What does Sandra do?` `She`s a teacher, like me.` (not `as me`)
• Be careful! The floor has been polished. It`s like walking on ice. (not `as walking`)
• It`s raining again. I hate weather like this, (not `as this`)
 
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).
You can also say `like (somebody/something) doing something`:
• `What`s that noise?` `It sounds like a baby crying.`
 
Sometimes like = `for example`:
• Some sports, like motor racing, can be dangerous.
You can also use such as (= for example):
• Some sports, such as motor racing, can be dangerous.
 
We use as (not `like`) before a subject + verb:
• I didn`t move anything. I left everything as I found it.
• They did as they promised. (= They did what they promised.)
 
Compare like and as in these sentences:
• You should have done it like this. (like + pronoun)
• You should have done it as I showed you. (as + subject + verb)
 
We also say as you know / as I said / as she expected / as I thought etc.:
• As you know, it`s Tom`s birthday next week. (= you know this already)
• Jane failed her driving test, as she expected. (= she expected this before)
 
Note that we say as usual / as always:
• You`re late as usual.
 
As can also be a preposition but the meaning is different from like. Compare:
 
As
• Brenda 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)
• During the war this hotel was used as a hospital, (so it really was a hospital)
 
Like
• Mary Stone is the assistant manager.
Like the manager (Brenda Casey), she
also has to make important decisions.
(`Like the manager` = similar to the manager)
• Everyone is ill at home. Our house is like a hospital, (it isn`t really a hospital)
 
As (preposition) = `in the position of, `in the form of etc.:
A few years ago I worked as a bus driver, (not `like a bus driver`)
• We`ve got a garage but we haven`t got a car, so we use the garage as a workshop.
• Many English words (for example, `work` and `rain`) can be used as verbs or nouns.
• London is all right as a place to visit, but I wouldn`t like to live there.
• The news of her death came as a great shock.
 
We say regard…..as
• I regard her as my best friend.
RESULTS 1. Your English is very fluent. I wish I could speak as
LIKE you. 2. Don`t take my advice if you don`t want to. You can do as
you like. 3. You waste too much time doing things as
LIKE sitting in cafes all day. 4. I wish I had a car as
LIKE yours. 5. There`s no need to change your clothes. You can go out as
you are. 6. My neighbour`s house is full of interesting things. It`s as
LIKE a museum. 7. I think I prefered this room as
it was, before we decorated it. 8. When we asked Sue to help us, she agreed immediately, as
I knew she would. 9. Sharon has been working as
a waitress for the last two months. 10. While we were on holiday, we spent most of our time doing energetic things as
LIKE sailing, water skiing and swimming. 11. You`re different from the other people I know. I don`t know anyone as
LIKE you. 12. We don’t need all the bedrooms in the house, so we use one of them as
a study. 13. as
LIKE her father, Catherine has a very good voice. 14. The news that Sue and Jim were getting married came as
a complete surprise to me. 15. At the moment I`ve got a temporary job in a bookshop. It`s OK as
a temporary job but I wouldn`t like to do it permanently.
1. I slept very well last night. as/like
LIKE a baby. 2. You