In Russian, we compare something using the word “like”:
“She bought a dress just like mine. He swims like a fish. She looks like her father. Your perfume smells like a rose."

To say that someone is like someone else or does something in a similar way, in English language must be used words like and as.

However, these words, although they have a very similar translation, mean different things and are used in different situations.

In this article I will tell you how to use them correctly and explain the difference between them so that you do not make mistakes when using them.

From the article you will learn:

Using like in English

Like

• Pronunciation:[ˈlaɪk] / [laik]
• Translation: Like, like, like
• Meaning: Be the same or do the same as someone else

We use like when we compare different people or objects. That is, despite their similarity, they will be different people/objects.

For example:

You look like the cover star (meaning you look alike, but you're not her. We're talking about two different people).

We use the word like when we say that:

1. One person/object is similar to another person/object

Your daughter looks like you.

2. One person/thing does something the same way as another person/thing.

She tries to dance like the dancer on TV.

Words often used with like

Since we often compare tastes, appearance, sound, the word like is often preceded by the following words:

• look - looks
• sound - sounds
• feel - felt
• taste - has a taste
• seem - it seems

For example:

You sound like my wife.
You sound like my wife.

The park looked like a jungle.
The park looked like a jungle.

The fruit tastes like strawberry
This fruit tastes like strawberries.

This feels like silk
It feels like silk.

It seemed like a dream.
It seemed like a dream.

What to put after like?

After like they usually put:

• Person or object (answers the question “who?/what?”)

For example:

I think this tastes like coconut
I think it tastes like coconut.

She dresses like that model.
She dresses like that model.

• Words that replace a person or object (for example, instead of friend - he). In English these are words

me - I
you - you
us - we
them - they
him - he
her - she
it - it

For example:

You are like him.
You are just like him.

She plays like us.
She plays like us.

Use of as in English

As

• Pronunciation:[æz] / [ez]
• Translation: As well as
• Meaning: Doing something as someone

We use the word as when we talk about the same person or thing. We say that one object or person fulfills some role or is needed for some purpose.

For example:

He worked as a cashier last summer (he was a cashier, that is, he is the same person).

In this case we can say that:

1. He performs the functions of someone

This summer she worked as a waiter.

2. Used as something

He used the stone as a hammer.

They chose Peter as a captain.
We chose Peter as captain (literally: We chose Peter as captain).

He works as a doctor.
He works as a doctor (literally: He works like a doctor).

Also, as is often used in the constructions as…as or not as…as, which I told you about in another article.

What is the difference between like and as?

We use the word like when we talk about similarity several different people or things .

For example:

She looks like a teacher in this suit.
She looks like a teacher in this costume (she is not a teacher, she and the teacher are two different people).

We use the word as when we speak about one person or thing fulfilling some role or being used for something.

For example:

She works as a teacher.
She works as a teacher (she is a teacher, that is, she is one person).

Let's look again at the use of these words in the table:

Like	As
One person/thing is similar to another person/thing. For example: He looks like that actor. He looks like that actor (the actor and he are different people).	A person/object performs the functions of someone For example: He works as an actor. He works as an actor (he is an actor - they are one and the same person).
One person/thing does something the same way as another. For example: You drive like a racer. You drive like a racer (he's not a racer, they're two different people).	A person/object is used as something For example: That could be used as a cup. This can be used as a cup (this item can be a cup, meaning they are the same item).

So, we've covered the words like and as, now let's practice using them.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

1. My friend works as an accountant.
2. My cat is like a little tiger.
3. She dresses like a boy.
4. You don't look like a teacher.
5. She worked as a salesperson for 2 years.
6. You can use the bottle as a vase.

LIKE

Verb + LIKE + noun/pronoun.

• He speaks like a native speaker.
• She looks like a supermodel.

AS

The sentence structure is as follows: AS + subject (noun) + predicate (verb)

• Nobody sings as she does.
• They went to the party as they were.

And now, in order.

Like

1. The word like is used in situations when we compare something with something and say that something looks like something or is the same.

She is like her mother. – She looks like her mother (and the comparison can be not only external)

Her perfume smells like oranges. – Her perfume smells like citrus. (i.e. they smell “like” citrus fruits)

Imagine a grown woman acting like a child. - Imagine a grown woman who behaves like a child!

2. like is used when listing and is translated “such as”.

Some sports, like parachuting, can be very dangerous. — Some sports, such as parachuting, can be very dangerous.

3. in the phrase “as if” (someone is doing something)

- “What’s that noise?” - What is this noise?

- “It sounds like a baby crying.” -It sounds like that as if a child were crying.

NB, finally, a few examples for translation:

My friend is like me.

He seems smart like a fox.

He acts more like a brother than a friend.

He looks like a handsomer version of me.

He is like a younger brother who has known me all my life.

We are like two comedians when we get together.

Talking with him is like talking to myself.

AS

1. We use as speaking about profession or functions of someone (something) and will be translated as “as”

I worked as a shop assistant for 2 years when I was a student. — I worked as a salesman(as a seller) two years when I was a student.

He used his shoe as a hammer to hang the picture up. — He used his shoe as a hammer to hang a picture.

2. translated “same as” in the construction as…as (with an adjective in the middle)

He’s just as stupid as his dog! — He's as stupid as his dog!

3.use as in stable expressions:

• as you know - as you know
• as I said - as I told you
• as he suggested - as he suggested
• because I thought - as I thought
• as usual - as usual
• As always - as always
• as we have agreed - as we agreed

• As you know, classes restart on January 15th.
• I tried using salt as you suggested but the stain still didn’t come out.
• As we agreed the company will be split 50/50 between us.

Usually, when it comes to comparing adjectives and adverbs, the first thing that comes to mind is degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs , in particular comparative and superlative degrees. And few people realize that the positive degree of comparison, that is, the original form of the adjective or adverb, can also be used in comparison. The positive degree is used in comparative constructions as...asnotso...as.

as...as

This structure corresponds to Russian formulations “the same... as...”, “as much... as” or simply comparison using a conjunction "How". Thus, this construction is used to express equality or inequality two objects. For comparative design as…as The following usage patterns are typical:

first object + verb +as + adjective +as + second object
His flat is as big as your flat.	His apartment is as big as your apartment.
This flat is as good as anyone can get for this price.	This apartment is as nice as you can find for the price.
first object + verb +as + adverb +as + second object
Tom doesn't drive as well as he told us.	Tom doesn't drive as well as he told us.
We came as quickly as we could.	We came as quickly as we could.
first object + verb +as + quantity expression +as + second object (in this case, the typical translation is “as much... as...", etc.)
They don't really have as many cars as they told you.	They don't really have as many cars as they told you.
There is as much money in this case as you promised me.	This case contains as much money as you promised me.

If with the expression object equality everything is more or less unambiguous (by the way, constructions confirming equality are not found very often in speech), then the expression of inequality should be considered separately.

Grammatical structure and meaning of construction not so... as

As can be seen from the table above, the design as...as occurs in both affirmative and negative sentences. However, there is another structure responsible for expressing inequality, that is, comparison using the positive degree of comparison in negative sentences - notso...as. This construction means " not as... as", "not as... as" and is used only in negative sentences:

George is not so tall as his sister Kate.	George is not as tall as his sister Kate.
Tom is not so good at mathematics as I am.	Tom is not as good at math as me.

Since in modern English, thanks to the globalization of its use, there are tendencies towards simplification, and the construction as...as can be used in all types of sentences, including negative ones, then the use of the structure notso...as is observed less and less often.

Expressing inequality: adjectives

You can show that two objects are not the same in one or another quality or property using the structure notas + adjective +as or notso + adjective +a s. In this case, the first of the compared objects “to a lesser extent” exhibits one or another characteristic. The order of the compared objects is reversed than when comparing using comparative adjective +than. Let's compare:

not as + adjective + as/not so + adjective + as	comparative adjective + than
This bag isn’t as heavy as that one. /This bag is not as heavy as that one.	That bag is heavier than this one. /Ta bag heavier, how this.
Jennifer is not as tall as Jane. /Jennifer Not like this high, How Jane.	Jane is taller than Jennifer. /Jane higher, how Jennifer.

If the predicate in such a negative sentence is expressed using verb to be , then it is permissible to use both a shortened construction (two types) and a full one.

It isn't as old as…
It's not as old as…

It isnot so old as...

Expressing inequality: verb + adverb

The structure can be used to compare unequal actions verb +not +as + adverb +as or verb +not +so + adverb +as. The order of the compared objects (actions) here will also be reversed compared to the construction than. Let's compare:

verb + not+ as + adverb + as/ verb+ not + so + adverb + as	comparative adverb + than
Tom doesn't’ t paint as well as we’ d hoped. /Tom doesn't draw as well as we hoped.	We’ d hoped Tom would paint better than he does. /We hoped that Tom draws better than he really does.
Alice didn’t come so early today as she did yesterday. /Alice Not came Today So early, How yesterday.	Yesterday Alice came earlier than she did today. /Yesterday Alice came earlier, how Today.

Inequality: Expressing Quantity

Constructions not as...asnotso...as often used to express quantitative inequality with words such as much And many .

not+ as + much/many… +as ornot + so + much/many… +as	more… +than
This gadget doesn't have as many options as the other one. / This device Not It has So a lot of options, How another.	The other gadget has more options than this one. / Another device It has more options, how this.
I don’t earn as much money as you do. / I don't make as much money as you do.	You earn more money than me. / You earn more money, than me.

such + noun phrase + as

Sometimes instead as/so applies such(such). This happens if there is a phrase with a noun inside the “comparative frame”:

Harry doesn't have such an interesting job as Paul.	Harry doesn't have such interesting work, How Floor.
The excursion to the outdoor museum never takes such a large amount of time and money as the excursion to the art gallery does.	Excursion to the museum open air never demands such a large amount of time and money as excursion to an art gallery.

Strengthening and weakening equality/inequality using adverbs nearly, quite, just, nowhere near

When we want to show that the differences between the objects being compared are significant or, conversely, very small, then the comparative constructions described in this article are supplemented with adverbs nearly - almost, at all; quite – completely, practically; just – exactly; nowhere near – not at all, not at all, in no way.

nearly	My town is nearly as old as Moscow. Great Britain isn't nearly as big as Canada.	My city is almost as old as Moscow. The UK is not at all as big as Canada.
	My flat is quite as big as yours. Tom doesn’t play chess quite as well as George does.	My apartment is almost as big as yours. Tom doesn't play chess quite as well as George.
	His bicycle is just as expensive as mine.	His bike is exactly as expensive as mine.
nowhere near	My town is nowhere near as big as Moscow.	My city is by no means as big as Moscow.

I am often asked what is the difference between As and Like, because in the context Like really means something, similar to that That. Let's first look at what Like can be in English

1) Like like “ similar, similar, similar" For example:

like question - similar question

In (a) like manner - in a similar way

like nothing on earth - unlike anything, strange

It costs something like $50. - Costs about 50 dollars.

What is it like? - What is this?

2) Like as “probability and possibility”.

They are like to meet again - they will probably meet again.

Like the adverb Likely.

He is likely to come! He will come soon!

3) Like as the well-known “to love, to like.”

He likes to read. - He likes to read.

I like people to tell me the truth. - I love it when they tell me the truth.

As can also be translated as “similar, similar.”

So,

1) We use as when we talk about the work or function we perform.

For example: I worked as a waiter when I was young. I worked as a waiter when I was young

She has used him as her slave all these years.She used him as her servant all these years.

2) As...As.

SO….AS….And in the middle there is an adjective. For example:’ Henotassastallhis brother

. He is not as tall as his brother.Sheasranasfastshe could

3) As is also used as a conjunction followed by a sentence with a subject and predicate .

He went to this football club, as his brother did some years ago. He went to a football club, just like his brother did a few years ago.

He is a boring man, as many here are. He is a boring person, like many here.

Expressions with As.

As you know, they will come tomorrow. As you know, they will come tomorrow.

A s you suggested, I tried these shoes but they aren`t comfortable. As you suggested, I tried wearing these boots, but they are not comfortable.

As we agreed, you will do it for me. As we agreed, you will do this for me.

T heir house is the same as ours. Their house is the same as ours.

LIKE but more often it comes as a comparison, not in “quality”, but “similarly”.

For example:

I work like a dog every day.I work like a dog every day.

They are not like me!They are not like me!

She looks like her mother!She looks just like her mom!

A small note : BetweenLIKE, ASIF, AS THOUGHthere is no fundamental difference. All 3 forms indicate“ As if” .

• You look as if you’ve seen a ghost. You look like you've seen a ghost.
• You talk as though we’re never going to see each other again. You say that as if we will never meet.
• It looks like it's going to rain. It looks like it's going to rain!

I also suggest looking at two interesting posts and. You'll like it.

Have a great day

What is the difference between like and as in English?

Here you can find out what is the difference between like and as in English.

Both of these words are used for comparisons. We can compare one object to another or one person to another.

1. Like translates as the same, similar to something.

Study the example.
The claws of cats are very sharp. They are like razor - Cat's claws are very sharp. They are like a razor (same as a razor, similar to a razor).

Note that like is a preposition. That is why it is followed by a pronoun, noun or word ending in -ing.

2. In the case of as, the situation is completely different.
After as comes subject and predicate.

Study the example.
I will do that work as you showed me - I will do the work as you showed me.

This was the main difference between like and as, but if you are interested in this topic, learn some of the specifics of using as.

Combination such as - like for example, such as used without a verb.
Some cars such as BMW can be very expensive - Some cars, such as BMW, can be very expensive.

In writing and in colloquial speech the expression is often used as usual - as usual.
He won as usual - As usual, he won.

In some cases, as can be used in the construction as + noun.
when we speak as + noun, we want to say that something is or was something in fact. Like, in turn, serves only for comparison.

To understand this rule, study two examples and compare them.
In 2003 John worked as a teacher - In 2003 John worked as a teacher (he actually worked as a teacher).
There are a lot of dead birds in our garden. It's like a cemetery - There are a lot of dead birds in our garden. It looks like a cemetery (but in fact it is not a cemetery).