AS = I am this.
LIKE = I am similar to this.
I work as a babysitter
(I am a babysitter. This is my job.)
I work like a babysitter.
(This is not my job. I am a teacher, but my students act like children. My job is similar to a babysitter’s.)
As a child, I absolutely loved Barbie dolls.
(This is the time I was a child.)
Why does my boyfriend act like a child?
(His behaviour is similar to a child’s.)
Do you know anyone who works like dog?
AS: Two things can be described as the same.
as + adjective + as
I am as tall as my older sister.
(We are the same height.)
Bristol is as expensive as Manchester.
(Both cities have the same prices.)
I think London is as beautiful as Paris.
(Both cities have the same beauty.)
not as + adjective + as
I’m not as tall as my older sister. (My older sister is taller than me.)
Bristol is not as expensive as Manchester. (Manchester is more expensive than Bristol.)
I think London isn’t as beautiful as Paris. (Paris is more beautiful than London.)
Do you know anyone who is as blind as a bat?
as many + plural countable noun + as
Bristol has as many people as Liverpool.
(The population is the same for both cities.)
I have as many Facebook friends as you.
(We have the same amount of friends.)
Messi has scored as many goals as Ronaldo.
(Both footballers have scored the same number of goals.)
not as + countable noun + as
Bristol doesn’t have as many people as Liverpool.
(Bristol has less people than Liverpool.)
I don’t have as many Facebook friends as you.
(I have less FB friends than you.)
Messi hasn’t scored as many goals as Ronaldo.
(Ronaldo has scored more goals than Messi.)
as much + uncountable noun + as
My teenage son eats as much food as my husband.
(My son and husband eat the same amount.)
I earn as much money as my brother.
(My brother and I earn the same amount.)
I have as much time on Monday as I do on Sunday.
(On Monday and Sunday I have the same amount of free time.)
not as much + uncountable noun + as
My teenage son doesn’t eat as much food as my husband.
(My husband eats more food than my son.)
I don’t earn as much money as my brother.
(My brother earns more money than me.)
I don’t have as much time on Monday as I do on Sunday.
(I am busier on Monday than I am on Sunday.)
LIKE = two things can be similar
We usually use like with a sense verb: LOOK, FEEL, SMELL, TASTE, SOUND
Oh my goodness, you look like Brad Pitt.
(Your face is similar to Brad Pitt’s face.)
This shirt feels like silk.
(Your shirt has a similar feeling to silk.)
Wow, your kitchen smells like a bakery.
(Your kitchen has the smell of fresh bread similar to a bakery’s.)
My cousin sounds like Kermit the Frog.
(My cousin has a similar voice to Kermit the Frog’s.)
You can use like with other verbs too:
The ballerina dances like a swan.
Stop acting like a child!
If you want to be a millionaire, you need to think like a millionaire.
Do you usually sleep like a baby?
