Like they gave me one

Question

Which are correct:1-They will give you a reprimand, like they gave me a reprimand. 2-They will give you a reprimand, as they gave me a reprimand.3-They will give you a reprimand, like me. (I was given a reprimand)4-They will give you a reprimand, as they did to me. 5-They will give you a reprimand, as they did me.6-They will give you a reprimand, as to me.They are all supposed to mean the same thing. They gave me a reprimand and now they will give you a reprimand. It seems to me that '3' and '6' mean (if they are correct at all) that I WILL be given a reprimand, not that I WAS given a reprimand.Gratefully,Navi.

Thomas Tompion · Accepted Answer

Hello Navi.

I'd reject the following:

1. Don't use like as a conjunction.
3. Is trying to use like as a conjunction - if there's not a lot of elision, then one wonders what is like me.
5. They did me doesn't establish a parallel with the early part of the sentence.
6. As to me doesn't establish a parallel with the early part of the sentence.

That leaves 2, which is fine, except that it's wordy and there's an ambiguity between as (in the same way) and as (because) - one wouldn't know which was meant.

And 4, which is clumsy, because of the lack of parallelism between give you and did me, but, of the six, I think this is the best.

I'd prefer to choose a different subject and say You will receive a reprimand, just as I did. The addition of just makes clear that you mean as (in the same way) and not as (because).

One could use it for that purpose in a variant of 2, and say something like They will give you a reprimand, just as they gave me one.

Like they gave me one

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