LearnEnglish
Menu
Grammar > B1-B2 grammar > Using 'as' and 'like'
Using 'as' and 'like'
Do you know how to use like and as? Test what
you know with interactive exercises and read
the explanation to help you.
Look at these examples to see how as and like
are used.
I worked as an actor for two years.
I went home early as I felt ill.
He looks as if he hasn't slept.
As you know, this is the third time I've
had to complain.
He looks like his dad.
She's like a sister to me.
Try to do something relaxing, like reading
a book or having a bath.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
as and like are often confused since they can
both be used for comparisons. There are,
however, important differences.
Making comparisons
as + adjective + as and
as much as
We often use the structure as + adjective +
as or as much as to say if something has, or
doesn't have, the same amount of that quality
as something else.
She loves curry as much as I do.
He's not as tall as his brother.
It's not as expensive as the other hotel.
That dog is as big as that child!
You also have to use as in the expression the
same as.
Your phone is the same as mine.
Texting is not the same as speaking in
person.
like + noun
In the following comparisons, like is followed by
a noun or a pronoun to say that two things are
similar.
He's like a father to me.
She's acting like a child.
It's like a burger but with big mushrooms
instead of bread.
There are lots of people like us.
It is also common to make comparisons using
like with verbs of the senses.
She looks like her mother.
It sounds like a cat.
Nothing tastes like homemade
lemonade.
It smells like medicine.
It feels like cotton.
as if / as though + clause
As if and as though can be used to compare a
real situation to an imaginary situation. They are
followed by a clause (a subject and verb).
You look as if you've seen a ghost.
I felt as if I was floating above the
ground.
You talk as though we're never going to
see each other again.
Giving examples
We can say like or such as to give examples.
You could try a team sport like football,
basketball or hockey.
You should take something soft, such as
a towel, to lie on.
Talking about a job or
function
We can use as + noun to talk about a job or
function.
I worked as a shop assistant for two
years.
He used his coat as a blanket to keep
warm.
as to connect two
phrases
as can be used as a conjunction to connect two
phrases. It can have different meanings.
as = 'because'
All the tickets were sold out as we got
there too late.
As the road was closed, I had to park on
the next street.
as = 'while' or 'during the
time that'
She called as I was getting out of the
bath.
As they were arriving, we were leaving.
as = 'in the way that'
As we expected, it started to rain.
As you know, classes restart on 15
January.
As I said, I think this project will be a
challenge.
** Note that in informal speech, people
sometimes say like for 'in the way that'.
Like I said, I didn't know her.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
Grammar test 2
Try another grammar lesson
Language level
B1 Intermediate
Average: 4.7 (59 votes)
Do you need to
improve your
English
grammar?
Join thousands of
learners from around
the world who are
improving their English
grammar with our
online courses.
Find out more
Submitted by Cmae on Mon,
12/02/2024 - 08:57
Permalink
So in order to check I’ve understood
everything. In the following situation…
I see it as an opportunity to learn
I see it like an opportunity to learn
Would you use “as” because you are
talking of a function? Or do you use
both because like can be used + a
noun?
Thank you in advanced!
Log in or register to post comments
Submitted by Kirk Moore on Mon,
12/02/2024 - 13:54
Permalink
Hello Cmae,
'see it as' is the correct option here.
When we're talking about how we
see or view a situation, we use 'as'.
It is possible to say 'see it like',
though, when 'like' means 'in the
same manner' as another person --
for example: 'I don't see it like he
does'.
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Log in or register to post comments
Submitted by unkonwn on Sun,
14/01/2024 - 18:42
Permalink
Question
The second game didn’t go as ……..
as the first one
a) good
b) well
C) better
D) best
Log in or register to post comments
Submitted by Kirk Moore on Mon,
15/01/2024 - 06:11
Permalink
Hello unkonwn,
'well' is the answer. You're
comparing how the two games went
and so you need an adverb. This is
a comparative structure, but the
basic form of the adjective or
adverb is used with 'as ... as'.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Log in or register to post comments
Submitted by Uyen123 on Sat,
11/11/2023 - 06:32
Permalink
Hi, Can I rewrite the sentence like
this?
My mother is the most warm-hearted
person I've ever known.
-> I have never known such a warm-
hearted person like my mother.
'such' is for emphasis (such a good
film), 'like' in similar to, in the same
way as (a warm-hearted person like
my mom), not such as the fixed
phrase.
Thank you!
Log in or register to post comments
Submitted by Peter M. on Sat,
11/11/2023 - 08:04
Permalink
Hello Uyen123,
No, I'm afraid not. After 'such' you
need to use 'as': (such a....
as....) and you can't replace it with
'like'.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Log in or register to post comments
Submitted by Uyen123 on Sat,
11/11/2023 - 08:44
Permalink
Hi Peter, Thank you for you reply.
But i'm still a bit confused.
In Cambridge Dictionary, such
(1st meaning): used before a
noun or noun phrase to add
emphasis. Such ... as is in the
2nd meaning if such: of the
particular or similar type. I feel like
'like' can be replaced and
understood as similar (1st
meaning)
- I've never met such a warm-
hearted person like/ similar to my
mother.
Thanks for your clarification.
Log in or register to post comments
Submitted by Peter M. on
Sun, 12/11/2023 - 08:16
Permalink
Hi Uyen123,
Like shows similarity but does
not directly compare two things
in terms of degree. For that kind
of comparison you need such
as. In fact, 'as' is key for
showing degree and you can
see it in many phrases: as big
as / so big as / such a big thing
as.
You can read more on the
subject here:
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/gra
b2-grammar/using-as-like
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Log in or register to post comments
Submitted by oyo on Tue,
19/09/2023 - 16:23
Permalink
LOVE IT IT IS INTRESTING AND
AWESOME AND I LEARNED ALOT
Log in or register to post comments
Submitted by User_1 on Fri,
07/07/2023 - 15:08
Permalink
Hello,
As for making comparisons: the
choice between structure "as +
adjective + as" and "like + noun".
In the example above: "He's not as
tall as his brother".
If I write: "He is not tall like his
brother", will this sentence be correct
as well?
In this case, could they be
interchangeable?
Thanks for your help
Log in or register to post comments
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 … Next Last
Online self-study courses
Online courses
Our websites
LearnEnglish Kids for children aged
5 to 12
LearnEnglish Teens for children aged
13 to 17
TeachingEnglish for teachers and
teacher educators
Help
Free online English test
Sign up for our newsletter
Frequently asked questions
Getting started
House rules
Online courses
Live classes Self-study
Group and one-to- Learn English in your
one classes with own time, at your own
expert teachers. pace.
Personal tutoring IELTS
One-to-one sessions preparation
focused on a Get the score you
personal plan. need with private and
group classes.
Online courses Vocabulary
Live classes A1-A2 vocabulary
IELTS preparation B1-B2 vocabulary
Personal tutoring Vocabulary games
Self-study courses
Learning style quiz
Business English
Corporate training and
assessments
Learning hub
Business magazine
Topics
Podcasts for professionals
Community events
English for emails
You're Hired
Skills
Listening
General English
Reading
Video zone
Writing
Audio zone
Speaking
Magazine zone
Story zone
Grammar Audio series
A1-A2 grammar Video series
B1-B2 grammar Apps
C1 grammar
English grammar reference
English levels
Online English level test
Understand your English
level
Improve your English level
Find resources for your level
Icon Footer Learning English
About us Terms of use Accessibility
Privacy and cookies Affiliate programme
Getting started Frequently asked questions
Contact us Site map
© British Council
The United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations
and educational opportunities.
A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733
(Scotland).
TikTok Instagram YouTube
Facebook Twitter
