We provide quality tefl resources free of charge.
If you like our resources please consider donating, buying from our book list or clicking our advertising.

Specific Grammar Exercises/As or Like


Academic English Structures often wrongly used - as / like.






Problem: Students often use “as” instead of “like” and vice-versa ("like"

instead of "as").



Remedy: Learn the grammar rules given further down the page.




Examples: Before consulting the second sheet, put “as” or “like” or

nothing in the following examples.






1. What does he look __________ ?


Please write your answer here:



2. He fought __________ a madman.


3. I feel __________ a drink.



4. I am employed __________ a teacher.



5. What is he _________ ?


6. He looks __________ a fish.



7. He looks __________ very sick.



8. Dustin Hoffman appeared __________ a woman in the film



“Tootsie”.


9. Everyone should eat green vegetables, _________ cabbage or



broccoli.



10. It looks _________ rain.


11. What does it taste __________ ?



12. Playing this computer game feels just ­­­__________ driving a real car.



13. I’m __________ blind __________ a bat without my glasses.




Do you need some hints and clues (pieces of helpful information)? Then scroll down.............





















Now check these rules and see if you want to change any of your answers
.





"Like" is used:

1) Idiomatic expression.

.............I feel like a snack. (I would like a snack)

2) Colloquial expression.

It looks like snow. (It looks as if it is going to snow)

3) Like + gerund.

It's just (exactly) like being in prison. (Simple comparison)

4) The same as 3) (simple comparison), followed by a noun only.

......He acts like my boss.

5) To introduce examples.





“As” is used:



6) With “if” for comparisons as in 4) above. It cannot be

followed by a noun only.

He acts as if he is my boss

7) With a second “as” to make comparisons.

.......It's as old as the hills. (common expression)

8) It can be followed simply by a noun as in 4) above, but with a

different meaning.

He acts as my boss. (He actually IS my boss – he performs

.......this role)


9) For acting or film roles.

.......She appeared in “Rocky II” as the boxer’s girlfriend.


Endnote:



What is it like? (very general…. it means tell me all about it)

What does it sound like? (more specific)


Also:


In the uses above, “like” is a preposition. It can also be a verb, as in:


I like dancing (or to dance). (very general)

I would like to see you later (gerund not possible). (very specific)



When you've rewritten the sentences, check further down the page to see if they're the same as the suggested answer..............






















Solutions: (the information in brackets shows you where to look on the

page above to find the explanation)






1. What does he look like? (Endnote)







........ 2. He fought like a madman. (4)







3. I feel like a drink. (1)







4. I am employed as a teacher. (8)







5. What is he like? (Endnote)







6. He looks like a fish. (Endnote).







7. He looks very sick. Looks = “appears” so nothing needed.







8. Dustin Hoffman appeared as a woman in the film “Tootsie”. (9)







9. Everyone should eat green vegetables, like cabbage or broccoli. (5)







10. It looks like rain. (2)







12 . What does it taste like? (Endnote)






...... 13. Playing this computer game feels just like driving a

.......real car. (3)







...14. I’m as blind as a bat without my glasses. (7).










Photo Album






Tiles on the wall of a palace in Seville, southern Spain. Google "Alcazar Seville" for the Wikipedia entry and answer these questions:



1) Who built it?


2) What architectural style is it built in?


3) Who uses the building's upper apartments these days when they're in town?









Answers:



1) The Moors of North Africa.



2) Islamic style. The tiles have complex patterns with unusual characteristics and properties. This shows an interest and expertise in maths and geometry which is reflected in the decoration and structure of such buildings.




3) The Spanish royal family.






Do you get it?



My neighbour's fridge stopped working, so he phoned the council and asked them to take it away. They told him to put it outside on the pavement to be collected. He did so, but a week later it was still there. He phoned the council a second time, but still no-one came to collect it. Another week passed, so in desperation he went outside and put a sign on it. The sign said:

"Fridge - £20"

Half an hour later it was gone.





Grammar note:




U.K.: neighbour, pavement, pounds (£)

U.S.A: neighbor, sidewalk, dollars ($)