Level: Intermediate - Grammar Topic: As and like

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Making comparisons with as and like

Use and form

It is easy to confuse as and like because we use both of them to make comparisons,

but there are important differences.

We use as to:

1. Talk about job or function

I worked as a waiter.

He used his bag as an umbrella.

2. In comparisons, using the structure as adjective as.

She runs as fast as me.

We use like to:

1. Make a comparison using the structure like + noun/pronoun.

She sings like an angel.

He looks like his father

We can use like, as if and as though to make comparisons with no

difference in meaning.

It looks like it will rain.

It looks as if it will rain.

It looks as though it will rain.

Be careful!

In similar sentences we can use as and like but they have very different meanings.

As your coach, I have to say you need to practise. (I am your coach)

Like your coach, I have to say you need to practise. (I am not your coach but have a

similar opinion)

Level: Intermediate - Grammar Topic: As and like

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Activities!

Activity 1.

Students make a list of verbs. Try to have a list of about 20 but the more the better.

One student then starts a sentence using one of the verbs and another student has to

finish the sentence appropriately. For example:

Student A says He plays football like.

Student B finishes the sentence .a professional

b. Repeat the activity but instead make a list of adjectives and practise the as

adjective as structure.

Activity 2.

Students must create one sentences which must include the words as and like.

Students can structure the sentence any way they want or you can specify that it has

to follow a certain structure. For example:

I work as a teacher but I want to travel the world like a pilot.

To make this activity more difficult you could use the verbs from activity one.

Activity 3.

Tell students they are going to create sentences using either like, as if or as though.

Tell the students to look around the room, out the window or in a magazine or

newspaper if you have one and choose and object. For example:

A student looks out the window, sees a car and says:

The car looks as though it is broken.

The boys look like they are playing.