We generally
use LIKE and AS to make comparisons.
LIKE
The
structure of the sentence is usually: VERB + LIKE + NOUN / PRONOUN.
- He speaks like a native speaker.
- She looks like a supermodel.
AS
The
structure of the sentence is usually: AS + SUBJECT + VERB.
- Nobody sings as she does.
- They went to the party as they were.
It is very
common in American English to use LIKE instead of AS. However, it is generally
considered informal to use it in this way.
- We play football like champions do.
Another use
of AS is to say what the role/function of a person/thing is.
- He started work as a carpenter.
- She used the tapestry as a decoration in her living
room.
LIKE vs. AS
Be careful,
in similar sentences that use LIKE and AS, the meanings of each sentence are
very different. For example:
- As your boss, I must warn you to be
careful. (I am your boss.)
- Like your boss, I must warn you to be
careful. (I am not your boss, but he/she and I have similar attitudes.)
AS IF
In English
we also use as if to make comparisons. However it has a few distinct
characteristics to its use:
1. The verb
after AS IF is always in the past subjunctive, no matter what tense the
sentence is.
2. If the
verb BE directly follows AS IF, we use were for all personal
pronouns.
- He looks as if he knew the answer.
(The verbs
LOOKS indicates this sentence is in the present – but the verb after AS IF
– knew - is in the past subjuntive).
- She walks as if she were a
supermodel.
(The verb
after AS IF – be – has been changed to were and
not was).
- He boarded the airplane as if he were a
seasoned traveller.
- He spends money as if he owned a bank.
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