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Lezione settimanale 4 'like' and 'as'
Both of these can be used to talk about things which are similar. The rules about their use are quite clear but, as we will see later, in informal modern English the rules appear to be changing.
'like' is a preposition and is followed by a noun or a pronoun --I look like my father. --It's not like him to be late.
'as' is a conjunction and is used before a clause. --My son is a good tennis player, as I was when I was young. --Oliver died as he lived, drunk.
'as' is also used before prepositional expressions --In Paris, as in Berlin, the bankers are worried about the state of the Euro. --Today, as in the 1960's, London is very fashionable.
In more formal English, we often invert the word-order after 'as' --I'm good at playing golf, as is my son. --He went to Cambridge University, as did his father.
We also use 'as' with jobs, roles and functions --I got a Summer job as a waiter. --He uses my house as his own.
In modern informal American and British English, some people sometimes use 'like' as a conjunction in the place of 'as' . --You don't love her like I do.
They also use 'like' to mean 'as if' --He treats my house like it was his.
These are both considered 'incorrect' by many people but they are becoming so frequently used that it seems to me that the grammar rules are changing.
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