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Henryh Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

As / like

Hello teachers,

I have a question about the use of 'as' and 'like'. I thought 'like' was a preposition and 'as' was used before a subject + verb. However, I hear people say 'like' all the time. So what is the rule about it?

Are both the sentences below correct?

As I said yesterday, I'm thinking of going to Canada.
Like I said yesterday, I'm thinking of going to Canada.

I've just come back from my holidays but I feel tired and depressed.
I don't feel as if I've had a holiday.
I don't feel like I've had a holiday.

You look as if you haven't slept.
You look like you haven't slept.

Do you hear the music next door?
It sounds as if they are having a party.
It sounds like they are having a party.

After the interruption she carried on talking as if nothing had happened.
After the interruption she carried on talking like nothing had happened.

He walks as if he had a wooden leg.
He walks like he had a wooden leg.

He talks as if he knew everything.
He talks like he knew everything.

Thanks a lot.

Regards,
Henry
  

Top answer

You can get a lot of opinions by using the search feature in the top right corner. Opinions differ. Like has been used as a conjunction to introduce clauses for about 500 years.

  • You can get a lot of opinions by using the search feature in the top right corner.
  • Opinions differ.
  • Like has been used as a conjunction to introduce clauses for about 500 years.
  • " I suppose at the moment using like to introduce a clause is more common in AmE than BrE: Do like/as I say!
  • In my opinion there's nothing wrong with using like in this way but like I said, there are other opinions!
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1 Answers
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You can get a lot of opinions by using the search feature in the top right corner. Opinions differ. Like has been used as a conjunction to introduce clauses for about 500 years. Some 150 years ago some people began to object to this usage vehemently; in other words, it took people 350 years to realize that such usage was "wrong."

I suppose at the moment using like to introd

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