How to differentiate between adverb and preposition

Question

Like in the sentence "He talks like his father" "She acts/behave/walks like a man"I don't even know whether "like" here functions as an adverb or a preposition, And how can I know?Thanks.

Ian_G · Accepted Answer

Like

PREPOSITION:
1.Possessing the characteristics of; resembling closely; similar to.
a.In the typical manner of: It's not like you to take offense.
b.In the same way as: lived like royalty.
2.Inclined or disposed to: felt like running away.
3.As if the probability exists for: looks like a bad year for farmers.
4.Such as; for example: saved things like old newspapers and pieces of string.
ADJECTIVE:
1.Possessing the same or almost the same characteristics; similar: on this and like occasions.
2.Alike: They are as like as two siblings.
3.Having equivalent value or quality. Usually used in negative sentences: There's nothing like a good night's sleep.
ADVERB:
1.In the manner of being; as if. Used as an intensifier of action: worked like ****; ran like crazy.
2.Informal Probably; likely: Like as not she'll change her mind.
3.Nearly; approximately: The price is more like 1,000 dollars.
4.Nonstandard Used to provide emphasis or a pause: Like let's get going.
NOUN:
1.One similar to or like another. Used with the: was subject to coughs, asthma, and the like.
2.Informal An equivalent or similar person or thing; an equal or match. Often used in the plural: I've never seen the likes of this before. We'll never see his like again.
CONJUNCTION:
Usage Problem
1.In the same way that; as: To dance like she does requires great discipline.
2.As if: It looks like we'll finish on time

If you look through the rules you will see that while like can be either a preposition or an adverb the choice of which it is in your sentence is quite clear.

Hope this helps

How to differentiate between adverb and preposition

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