As and like are often confused in English because we use them both to talk about things that are similar.
In American English, like is often used as a conjunction (instead of as), but the conjunctive use of like is not correct.
AS
It’s a CONJUNCTION. It should be followed by a clause containing a subject and a verb.
The structure of the sentence is usually: AS + SUBJECT + VERB
EXAMPLES
- He runs as a gazzelle does.
- Nobody plays tennis as he does.
- She’s a good singer, as her mother was before her.
As can also be a preposition, but with a different meaning from like. The meaning of as in this case is: ‘in the position of‘; ‘in the form of‘, etc.
- Last year, I worked as a secretary in my brother’s office.
- The news of her death came as a great shock.
LIKE = ‘similar to’; ‘the same as’; ‘for example‘(= such as).
It’s a PREPOSITION. It should be followed by an object to make a prepositional phrase.
The structure of the sentence is usually: VERB + LIKE + NOUN / PRONOUN / -ING. You can also say ‘like (somebody/something) doing something’.
Examples:
- It’s hot in this room. It’s like an oven!
- He speaks like a native speaker.
- He runs like a gazzelle.
- The floor has been polished. It’s like walking on ice!
- It sounds like a dog barking.