Like vs. As – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read the food blogger’s review of a new plant-based restaurant carefully, and choose the best option to complete the sentences.
1 I was shocked when the waiter brought the plate; the vegan chicken looks exactly ______ real poultry.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) alike
(d) as if
2 I have been reviewing restaurants ______ a professional food critic for five years, and this is truly mind-blowing.
(a) like
(b) similar to
(c) as
(d) as being
3 Believe it or not, this mushroom-based patty tastes just ______ traditional southern fried chicken.
(a) as if
(b) like
(c) as
(d) such as
4 The talented chef used a clever combination of soy and oyster mushrooms ______ the main ingredients.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) alike
(d) similar to
5 When you cut into it, the texture of this plant-based dish feels exactly ______ tender breast meat.
(a) as if
(b) as
(c) as though
(d) like
6 Served ______ a main course, this innovative dish easily steals the spotlight from any real meat option.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) as if
(d) to be
7 Some competitors treat vegan food ______ an afterthought, but this restaurant takes plant-based dining very seriously.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) alike
(d) as to
8 When you bite into the golden crust, it crunches exactly ______ a perfectly fried piece of chicken should.
(a) like
(b) as if
(c) as
(d) alike
9 The savory, mouth-watering aroma filling the dining room smells exactly ______ a Sunday family roast.
(a) as
(b) as if
(c) like
(d) similar
10 They use a special smoking technique to make the soy protein taste ______ it was cooked over a real campfire.
(a) as
(b) like as
(c) as if
(d) alike
11 The processed soy fibers absorb the rich, savory marinades exactly ______ a sponge.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) as if
(d) such as
12 Many local skeptics originally dismissed the concept of vegan chicken ______ a culinary joke, until they actually tried this.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) to be
(d) alike
13 The outside coating is incredibly crispy and flaky, much ______ a classic fast-food favorite.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) as if
(d) as though
14 The chef seasoned the plant-based batter exactly ______ my grandmother used to do with real poultry.
(a) like
(b) as if
(c) as
(d) similar to
15 Even my stubborn, meat-loving brother ate the whole plate ______ he had been starving for days.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) alike
(d) as though
16 Regarded ______ a massive breakthrough in plant-based dining, this meal proves that veganism doesn’t mean eating ______ a rabbit.
(a) like / as
(b) as / as
(c) as / like
(d) like / like
17 The compressed mushroom fibers tear and pull apart just ______ real muscle fibers, which absolutely fooled my palate.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) as if
(d) alike
18 I walked into this restaurant ______ a complete skeptic, but left feeling ______ my entire culinary worldview had been shifted.
(a) like / as
(b) as / as if
(c) like / like
(d) as / like
19 ______ is often the case with innovative cuisine, this fake chicken challenges what we traditionally recognize ______ “normal” food.
(a) Like / as
(b) As / like
(c) As / as
(d) Which / as
20 You can use this versatile, spicy dip ______ a salad dressing, but honestly, it tastes exactly ______ homemade gravy.
(a) as / as
(b) as / like
(c) like / as
(d) like / like
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (a) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): The sensory verb look requires like when followed by a noun to express visual similarity (look like + Noun). The food is not actual poultry; it just resembles it.
- Error Analysis: (b) as (Meaning Trap: “Look as” is grammatically incorrect for comparing appearance to a noun). (d) as if (Structural Error: Must be followed by a full clause). (c) alike (Structural Error).
2 (c) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): Use As + Job title/Role to describe a genuine capacity or profession. The blogger genuinely works in the capacity of a food critic.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: “Reviewing like a critic” implies the person is not actually a critic, but just imitating one). (b) similar to (Meaning Error). (d) as being (Structural Error).
3 (b) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): The sensory verb taste requires like when comparing the flavor to a noun (taste like + Noun).
- Error Analysis: (c) as (Meaning Trap: You cannot say “taste as a chicken”). (a) as if (Structural Error: Requires a subject and verb). (d) such as (Used for giving examples, not sensory comparison).
4 (a) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The phrase use something AS something assigns a factual function to an object. The mushrooms and soy literally function as the main ingredients.
- Error Analysis: (b) like (Meaning Trap: Implies they resemble the ingredients but aren’t actually used as them). (c) alike (Structural Error). (d) similar to (Structural Error).
5 (d) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): The sensory verb feel requires like to compare physical sensations to a noun (feel like + Noun).
- Error Analysis: (b) as (Meaning Trap: “Feels as” is grammatically incorrect). (a) as if (Structural Error: Requires a full clause). (c) as though (Structural Error).
6 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The collocation serve AS something means to perform the actual function or role of that thing. The dish literally functions as the main course.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: “Serve like” is grammatically incorrect here). (c) as if (Structural Error). (d) to be (Structural Error).
7 (a) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The collocation treat something AS something means to classify or handle an item in a specific functional capacity.
- Error Analysis: (b) like (Common Mistake: While ‘treat like’ is used for behavior towards people, ‘treat as’ is the standard fixed collocation for assigning a status to a concept). (c) alike (Structural Error). (d) as to (Structural Error).
8 (c) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): As + Clause (Subject + Verb: “it should”) means “in the exact manner that.”
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Common Mistake: Highly informal. In formal/written B2 English, ‘as’ is the correct conjunction before a clause of manner). (b) as if (Meaning Trap: Means “hypothetically”). (d) alike (Structural Error).
9 (c) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): The sensory verb smell takes like when followed by a noun to express a perceived similarity (smell like + Noun).
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Meaning Trap: “Smell as” is grammatically incorrect). (b) as if (Structural Error). (d) similar (Structural Error).
10 (c) as if
- Why it is correct (The Key): As if (or as though) introduces a hypothetical or unreal situation followed by a clause. The soy was not cooked over a campfire, but it tastes hypothetically like it was.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Structural Error: Cannot introduce a hypothetical clause like this). (b) like as (Structural Error). (d) alike (Structural Error).
11 (b) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): A direct visual/functional comparison to a noun (like a sponge). The soy proteins are not actual sponges; this is a simile.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Meaning Trap: “Absorb as a sponge” would mean the soy proteins are literally sea creatures or cleaning tools). (c) as if (Structural Error). (d) such as (Structural Error).
12 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The collocation dismiss something AS something means to officially reject or categorize an idea in the capacity of that thing.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Common Mistake: Wrong preposition for this specific verb phrase). (c) to be (Structural Error). (d) alike (Structural Error).
13 (a) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): Like + Noun/Pronoun is used as a preposition to show similarity (“Similar to a classic fry”).
- Error Analysis: (b) as (Common Mistake: ‘As’ cannot be used as a preposition of similarity before a noun phrase). (c) as if (Structural Error). (d) as though (Structural Error).
14 (c) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): As + Clause (“my grandmother used to do”) means “in the way that.”
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Common Mistake: “Like my grandmother did” is casual spoken English; ‘as’ is grammatically correct before a clause). (b) as if (Meaning Trap). (d) similar to (Structural Error).
15 (d) as though
- Why it is correct (The Key): As though is synonymous with as if and introduces an unreal clause (“he had been starving”) with a Past Perfect verb to exaggerate his hunger.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Structural Error). (b) like (Common Mistake: Must be ‘as if/as though’ before a hypothetical clause). (c) alike (Structural Error).
16 (c) as / like
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Regarded AS a breakthrough” uses the collocation to classify the meal’s actual status. “Eating LIKE a rabbit” is a simile comparing human behavior to an animal.
- Error Analysis: (a) like / as (Meaning Trap: Reverses the meaning). (b) as / as (Meaning Trap: You cannot eat “as” a rabbit because you are human). (d) like / like (Common Mistake).
17 (b) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): Comparing the physical behavior of the fibers to real muscle using Like + Noun. They are not real muscles.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Meaning Trap: Implies they literally are muscle fibers). (c) as if (Structural Error: Needs a clause). (d) alike (Structural Error).
18 (b) as / as if
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Walked in AS a skeptic” states the author’s actual mindset/identity at the time. “Feeling AS IF my worldview had shifted” introduces a surreal, hypothetical clause.
- Error Analysis: (a) like / as (Meaning Trap: “Like a skeptic” means they weren’t really skeptical, just acting like it). (c) like / like (Structural Error). (d) as / like (Common Mistake).
19 (c) As / as
- Why it is correct (The Key): “AS is often the case” is a fixed formal idiom. “Recognize AS normal food” uses the collocation to classify the item.
- Error Analysis: (a) Like / as (Common Mistake: “Like is often the case” is a direct, incorrect translation). (b) As / like (Structural Error). (d) Which / as (Structural Error).
20 (b) as / like
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Use AS a dressing” assigns the sauce its actual function. “Tastes LIKE gravy” uses a sensory verb before a noun to express similarity (it’s a spicy dip, not actual gravy).
- Error Analysis: (a) as / as (Meaning Trap: Cannot “taste as”). (c) like / as (Structural Error). (d) like / like (Meaning Trap).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Sensory Verbs + LIKE (Verbs of Perception):
- When describing food, you must use like after sensory verbs if a noun follows. This compares the sensory experience to something else.
- Rule: Taste like, look like, smell like, feel like + Noun.
- Example: “This vegan patty tastes like real chicken.” (It is not chicken; it just shares the flavor).
- AS for Reality, Function & Classification:
- Use As + Noun to state the actual identity of a person, or the true function an object serves.
- Rule: Use as, serve as, act as, function as.
- Example: “I use the soy sauce as a marinade.” (It is genuinely functioning as a marinade).
- Classification Verbs: Regard as, treat as, dismiss as, recognize as.
- AS IF / AS THOUGH for Mind-Blowing Experiences:
- These conjunctions must be followed by a Clause (Subject + Verb). They are excellent for describing surreal or unbelievable food experiences.
- Example: “It tasted as if it had been cooked by a master chef.”
- AS + Clause (Manner):
- Use As + Subject + Verb to mean “in the exact way that.”
- Example: “The crust crunches exactly as it should.” (Avoid using ‘like’ here in formal writing).