UNIT 117. Like and as ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

UNIT 117. Like and as

A	Like= 'similar to', 'the same as'. 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: √ I enjoy water sports, like surfing, scuba diving and water-skiing. You can also use such as (=for example): √ I enjoy water sports, such as surfing, scuba diving and water-skiing.
B	As = in the same way as, or in the same condition as. We use as before subject+ verb: √ I didn't move anything. I left everything as it was. You should have done it as I showed you. √ We also use like in this way: √ I left everything like it was. Compare as and like: √ You should have done it as I showed you.       or ... like I showed you. You should have done it like this. (not as this) √ Note that we say as usual /as always: √ You're late as usual. As always, Nick was the first to complain. √
C	Sometimes as(+ subject+ verb) has other meanings. For example, after do: √ You can do as you like. (=do what you like) They did as they promised. (=They did what they promised.) √ We also say as you know /as I said /as she expected /as I thought etc. : √ As you know, it's Emma's birthday next week. (=you know this already) Andy failed his driving test, as he expected. (=he expected this before) √ like is not usual in these expressions, except with say (like I said): √ As I said yesterday, I'm sure we can solve the problem. or like I said yesterday ...
D	As can also be a preposition, but the meaning is different from like. Compare: √ As a taxi driver, I spend most of my working life in a car. (I am a taxi driver, that is my job) √ Everyone wants me to drive them to places. I'm like a taxi driver. (I 'm not a taxi driver, but I'm like one) As (preposition) = in the position of, in the form of etc. : √ Many years ago I worked as a photographer. (not like a photographer) Many words, for example 'work' and 'rain', can be used as verbs or nouns. London is fine as a place to visit, but I wouldn't like to live there. The news of the tragedy came as a great shock. √ √ √

EXERCISES

117.1	In some of these sentences, you need like (not as). Correct the sentences where necessary. 1 It’s raining again. I hate weather as this. ___weather like this_____ 2 Andy failed his driving test, as he expected. Do you think Lisa looks as her mother? Tim gets on my nerves. I can't stand people as him. Why didn't you do it as I told you to do it? Brian is a student, as most of his friends. _____OK _____________ 3 ______________________ 4 ______________________ 5 ______________________ 6 ______________________ 7 You never listen. Talking to you is as talking to the wall. ______________________ 8 As I said before, I'm thinking of changing my job. Tom's idea seems a good one. Let's do as he suggests. I'll phone you tomorrow as usual, OK? Suddenly there was a terrible noise. It was as a bomb exploding. She's a very good swimmer. She swims as a fish. ______________________ 9 ______________________ 10 ______________________ 11 ______________________ 12 ______________________
117.2	Complete the sentences using like or as+ the following: a beginner blocks of ice a palace a birthday present a child a theatre winter a tour guide 1 This house is beautiful. it's ______ like a palace _______. 2 My feet are really cold. They're ___________________________. I've been playing tennis for years, but I still play ___________________________. Marion once had a part-time job ___________________________. I wonder what that building is. It looks ___________________________. 3 4 5 6 My brother gave me this watch ___________________________a long time ago. It's very cold for the middle of summer. It's ___________________________. He's 22 years old, but he sometimes behaves ___________________________. 7 8
117.3	Put in like or as. Sometimes either word is possible. 1 We heard a noise ____ like _____ a baby crying. Your English is very fluent. I wish I could speak _______ you. Don't take my advice if you don't want to. You can do _______ you like. You waste too much time doing things _______ sitting in cafes all day. I wish I had a car _______ yours. You don't need to change clothes. You can go out _______ you are. My neighbour's house is full of interesting things. it's _______ a museum. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 We saw Kevin last night. He was very cheerful, _______ always. Sally has been working _______ a waitress for the last two months. In several countries in Asia, _______ Japan, Indonesia and Thailand, traffic drives on the left. You're different from the other people I know. I don 't know anyone else _______ you. We don't need all the bedrooms in the house, so we use one of them _______ a study. The news that Sarah and Gary were getting married came _______ a complete surprise to me. _______ her father, Catherine has a very good voice. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 At the moment I've got a temporary job in a bookshop. it's not great, but it's OK _______  a temporary job. _______ you can imagine, we were very tired after such a long journey. 17 This tea is awful. lt tastes _______ water. 18 I think I prefer this room _______ it was, before we decorated it. 16 17 18

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