English for Professionals
AS vs. LIKE ( [1] )
What is AS good for?
1.- To Express time
a.- When the second action occurs before the first is finished.
As I left the house, I remembered the key. (while I was leaving)
2.- To show two actions happening at the same time.
a.- He sang as he worked.
3.- To show development which happens at the same time.
a.- As the sun rose, the fog dispersed.
b.- As it grew darker it became colder ( The darker it grew the colder it became.)
c.- As she came to know him better, she relied on him more.
d.- As he became more competent, he was given more interesting work.( [2] )
4.- To mean while = during the time that.
a.- As he stood there he saw two men enter the bar.
b.- I saw the car as it turned the corner
5.- To mean when or while or because / since. This is used with verbs of action not with
verbs like: LIVE, STAY, or REMAIN.
Since / because
a.- As he was tired ( In view of the fact that he was tired.)
b.- As he knew her well…
c.- As it contains alcohol…
d.- As he lives near here…
e.- As it is rainy again, we’ll have to stay home.
f.- As / since / seeing that you don’t like Bill, why did you invite him.
6.- AS…AS With positive
NOT AS / NOT SO…AS With negative
a.- A boy of sixteen is often as tall as his father.
b.- He was as white as a sheet.
c.- Manslaughter is not as/so bad as murder.
d.- Your coffee is not as/so good as the coffee my mother makes.
e.- I am not as/so old as you are.
6-A Expressions with AS…AS which are commonly used.
1.- I spend as much as necessary.
2.- We have snow as much as 5 inches around here
3.- You can scream as much as you like. Todo lo que quieras, cuanto quieras
4.- I eat a lot, but he eats just as much ( as I do )
5.- Without as much as a smile Sin ni siquiera una sonrisa
6.- You are as ( something ) beautiful as ever.
7.- Please finish it as soon as possible
8.- We need as many people as possible
9.- I ate as much as I could.
10.- I am as much of a writer as any (one) of you
11.- She didn’t catch as many as she hoped..
12.- You are not half as ( something ) clever as you think you are.
13- I am not going to go out with a man who is twice as (something ) old as me.
14.- It took three times as long as I have expected.
15.- It’s not nearly as ( something ) cold as yesterday.
16.- He is just as (something ) strong as ever.
17.- You are nothing like as bad tempered as you used to be.
18.- She is every bit as (something ) beautiful as her sister.
19.- I’m not quite as (something ) tiered as I was last week.
20.- It is just as ( something ) easy to do it right as (to) do it wrong.
21.- It is as good as it gets.
22.- It is as new as ever ( as it is ever going to get ) ( as it ever was )
23.- As sure as can be. Ex. Are you sure? As sure as can be.
24.- As is the beginning so is the end-
7.- As, when it means though or although
Cold as it was, we went out. (although it was cold, we went out)
Tired as I was, I kept on working
Much as I respect your point of view, I can’t agree.
Much as I care…..
Strange as it may seem, I don’t like beer.
Small ( or a similar word ) as it is ( por pequeño que sea.
8.- In the condition or role of
As a boy, he used to play a lot.
She was brilliant as Helina ( In the roll of ) not meaning like Helina
Peter works as a waiter in the nearby restaurant
9.- When AS and LIKE mean two different things.
As your brother, I must warn you to be careful. (I am your brother)
Like your brother, I must warn you to be careful. (I am not your brother, but he
and I have similar attitudes.)
He worked like a slave. ( He worked very hard )
He worked as a slave. ( He was a slave )
10.- Expressions with “AS”
Do as you please.
Do as you wish
Do as I do.
As I do You don’t know him as well as I do
As it is We can’t O.K. it as it is
As it used to be ( known )
As planned. We meet in the cafeteria as planned
Take it as it is. I can’t take it as it is.,…etc.
As it were ( por decirlo asi )
As you (probably ) know.
As (it) is well known.
As was agreed,
As we agreed
As we know it It would be the end of civilization as we know it
He believed as I did.
As I was saying
As you wish
As you like
As for this. En cuanto a esto.
As for me ( you ) En cuanto a mi.
As yet ( Hasta ahora )
So as to A fin de, con el objeto de
As the case may be. Según sea el caso
As a rule Por regla general
As I understand it.
As things stand Como estan las cosas
He strikes me as a fool
In the army, many times, men behave as one unit
What is LIKE good for?
Like is a general word indicating resemblance or similarity ranging from virtual identity in all characteristics to a chance resemblance to only one.
1.- Similar / equal / nearly equal
Members of the cat family have like dispositions.
2.- Comparison / manner / way / resemblance
I never saw anything like it
Learn what skiing is like
Have great respect for a man like that.
Keep people like him out.
We should invite people like him more often.
He returned the money like a good bo
LIKE THAT Just like that.( [3] )
I am going to go in there and ask for my money. Just like that! Yes
Just like that. ( Just as that. = NO SE PUEDE ) pero se puede:
Just as simple (-ly) as that
Behave like gentleman, please.
Stop shouting + like that. Stop + verb
bothering me “
harassing me “
behaving “
looking (at) me…etc. “
I can’t (or can ) do it like that. Can’t + verb
shout “
write “
eat “
whistle…etc “
3.- Same / similar structure or character
It feels like fur ( It feels as good as ever )( It feels as if I’ve been drinking)
(it is going to feel )
It feels as good as fur.
Try and see what it feels like.
It Tastes like banana ( It tastes as much banana as syrup.)
It Seems like winter
Foxes are like dogs
4.- The case of LOOKS LIKE
Can mean
A.- same / similar / seeming / indication of possibility
B.- a simple expression of how things are. An indicator of a state of reality.
It Looks like rain ( It looks as if it is going to rain.)
indication of `possible occurrence.
A.- “ looks like he will get the job.
“ looks like a good idea
She looks like her sister. ( She looks as if her sister insulted her.)
B.- It looks like her sister insulted her.
It is going to look like brand new ( like a stream butterfly ) ( It is going to look as good as new.)
Resembling / approaching
He has done something like justice
He has done something like a house. ( a bit ironical )
Heard sounds like motor running
“ like whispering
“ a noise like a car stopping (like the stopping of a car.)
Like father like son. ( As father as son NO SE PUEDE )
Expressions with IT’S LIKE or WAS like
It’s like living in the country
It’s like working
It’s like taking a break
It’s like being in a hot tab
It’s like talking with somebody.
It’s like anything else. Can go with Just It’s just like anything else
It was like in the war.
It was like a big giant balloon.
It was like going home
Con negación:
It’s nothing like the one I had a few years back.
It’s nothing like Christmas. No se parece nada a la Navidad
It’s nothing like you think No es nada como lo piensas tu
There is nothing like Christmas. No hay nada como la Navidad
There is nothing like a home made apple pie
Idiomatic expression / catchy phrases
Sold (sells ) like hot cakes
Dancing like crazy
Screamed like hell
Fought like a devil
Hurt. like hell ( It hurts like hell )
Worked like a house fire
I can read his mind like a book.
No place like home.
The likes of somebody or something
I haven’t seen the likes of him / her
Nothing like a warm bath for relaxing.
Nothing like a good night sleep.
What is she / he like?
Like breeds like
Like hell ( you will )
In like manner. Del mismo modo (Likewise)
Like nothing else.
Like none else. He spoke like none else.
If you like. Si Ud. Prefiere ( [4] )
I have my likes and dislikes
Expressions with like that ( of the kind indicated, such a character as that)
To fix something just like that. ( In no time, in a jiffy)
Don’t talk like that.
A small town like that.
Have a great respect for a man like that
He was autocratic, but dictators are like that.
He is like that all the time
In the same way / manner
When your car gives (you) trouble, like when the motor (engine) won’t start.
Como sufijo
Childlike character
To behave in an adultlike fashion
References:
Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
Gramercy Books, New York
1994
Webster’s Third New International Dictionary
Unabridged
Merriam-Webster Incorporated
1993
Practical English Usage
By, Michael Swann
Oxford University Press
1980,1995
A Practical English Grammar
By, A.J. Thomson
A.V. Martinet
Forth Edition
Oxford University Press
Twelfth Impression, 1995
The Oxford Spanish Dictionary
Chief Editors
Beatriz Galimberti Jarman and
Roy Russel
Oxford University Press
1994
[1] Elaborado por, Prof. Gábor Hernádi, July 2001. Versión No. 01
[2] If we use “when” here we loose idea of simultaneousness.
[3] If I say, “Do it just like that” has a different meaning from “Just like that.”
ORACIONES SIMPLES EN LAS ORACIONES COMPLEJAS
PRONOMBRES PERSONALES
PRACTICAS CON TO BE
EL VERBO HAVE Y SUS
DIFERENTES USOS
LOS DIFERENTES USOS DEL THAT
y THAN
AS Vs. LIKE
GLOSARIO DE TERMINOS
GRAMATICALES