Like vs. As – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read the story about my crazy part-time jobs during university and choose the best option to complete the sentences.
1 During my freshman year, I needed money for tuition, so I got a job ______ a barista at a local coffee shop.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) as if
(d) as being
2 The cafe manager was incredibly strict and treated me ______ I was his personal servant.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) alike
(d) as similar
3 Working the night shift during final exam week felt ______ an endless nightmare.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) such as
(d) as though
4 ______ a full-time university student, I struggled to balance my studies with my chaotic work schedule.
(a) Like
(b) As if
(c) As
(d) Alike
5 I didn’t have a car, so I had to use my old, rusty bicycle ______ my primary mode of transportation for food deliveries.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) as though
(d) similar to
6 My boss was extremely demanding; I was exhausted every single day, working ______ a machine just to earn minimum wage.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) as if
(d) such as
7 I was officially hired ______ a private tutor, but I mostly just did the high school kids’ homework for them.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) to be as
(d) as being
8 None of my coworkers in the kitchen worked ______ hard ______ I did to earn those extra weekend tips.
(a) like / like
(b) so / like
(c) as / like
(d) as / as
9 I had to wear a ridiculous, oversized promotional uniform that made me look ______ a giant hot dog on the street.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) as though
(d) just as
10 When the restaurant was terribly understaffed, I often had to act ______ the shift manager for the entire day.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) as if
(d) to be
11 At the end of a busy Friday shift, the kitchen was a total disaster, ______ a bomb had exploded in it.
(a) as
(b) similar to
(c) as though
(d) like as
12 I once tried to negotiate a small raise, but the owner just laughed and dismissed my request ______ a joke.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) alike
(d) as if
13 Many of my colleagues at the diner were completely broke college students, just ______ me.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) such as
(d) as if
14 I told my roommate, “I work ______ a waiter.” If I had said “I work ______ a waiter,” it would mean I actually have a different job but do similar tasks!
(a) like / as
(b) as / like
(c) as / as if
(d) like / alike
15 In my official resume, I proudly listed my summer job ______ a “Customer Service Representative.”
(a) like
(b) as
(c) as to
(d) alike
16 ______ is often the case with retail jobs, my weekly schedule was incredibly unpredictable and changed without notice.
(a) Like
(b) Which
(c) As if
(d) As
17 The supervisor yelled at me in front of the customers, ______ I had committed a terrible crime.
(a) just like
(b) like as
(c) as
(d) as if
18 I was highly regarded ______ a reliable employee, yet unfortunately, I was still paid ______ a total beginner.
(a) like / as
(b) as / like
(c) as / as
(d) like / like
19 We were trained to treat every single difficult customer ______ a VIP, even when they behaved ______ total jerks.
(a) as / like
(b) like / as
(c) as if / alike
(d) as / as
20 Looking back, I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. Serving ______ a waiter taught me how to handle pressure, even when I felt ______ quitting every day.
(a) like / as
(b) as / like
(c) as if / as
(d) like / alike
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): Use As + Job title/Profession to state the actual job someone does. The author was genuinely working in the role of a barista.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: “like a barista” means doing tasks similar to a barista but having a completely different job title). (c) as if (Structural Error: Must be followed by a clause). (d) as being (Structural Error: Unnecessary use of “being”).
2 (b) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): Use Like + Noun/Pronoun for comparison (meaning “similar to”). The manager treated the author similarly to a servant, even though the author was an employee, not an actual servant.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Meaning Trap: “treated me as his servant” would mean the author was actually hired to be his personal servant). (c) alike (Structural Error: Cannot precede a noun). (d) as similar (Structural Error).
3 (b) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): The structure feel like + Noun means to have a sensation or experience resembling something else.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Common Mistake: Students often confuse ‘as’ and ‘like’ after verbs of the senses like feel/look/sound). (d) as though (Structural Error: Must be followed by a clause). (c) such as (Used for giving examples, not for comparing sensations).
4 (c) As
- Why it is correct (The Key): As + Noun indicates someone’s actual status or role (“In the capacity of”). The author was genuinely a full-time university student.
- Error Analysis: (a) Like (Meaning Trap: Implies the author was NOT a student but struggled similarly to one). (b) As if (Structural Error). (d) Alike (Structural Error).
5 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The phrase use something AS something means to utilize an object in a specific role or function. The bicycle functioned in the role of primary transportation.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: Means the bicycle resembles transportation, but ‘as’ defines its actual function). (c) as though (Structural Error). (d) similar to (Meaning Error).
6 (b) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): working like a machine is a figurative comparison. The author is a human being, not an actual machine, so ‘like’ must be used to show similarity in behavior (working non-stop).
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Strong Meaning Trap: “working as a machine” literally means the author is a robot or piece of equipment). (c) as if (Structural Error). (d) such as (Structural Error: Used for examples).
7 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): hired AS + Noun denotes an official, actual job title.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: Means being hired to do things a tutor does, but holding a different official title). (c) to be as (Structural Error). (d) as being (Structural Error).
8 (d) as / as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The structure for equal comparison is as + adjective/adverb + as (worked as hard as I did).
- Error Analysis: (a) like / like (Common Mistake: Translating word-for-word from native languages). (c) as / like (Structural Error: The pairing must be as… as). (b) so / like (Structural Error).
9 (b) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): The structure look like + Noun means to visually resemble something. The author was not an actual hot dog; the uniform just made them resemble one.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Meaning Trap: “Look as” is not used to compare physical appearance to a noun). (c) as though (Structural Error: Requires a subject and verb). (d) just as (Structural Error).
10 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The phrase act as + Noun means to perform the function or role of someone else temporarily. The author actually had to take on the manager’s duties.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: “Act like a manager” usually carries a negative connotation of bossing people around without actually having the authority or doing the job). (c) as if (Structural Error). (d) to be (Wrong collocation).
11 (c) as though
- Why it is correct (The Key): As though (which means the same as ‘as if’) is followed by a clause (a bomb had exploded). It is used to describe a hypothetical or unreal situation.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Structural Error: Cannot be used alone to introduce a hypothetical clause like this). (b) similar to (Structural Error: Followed by a noun or gerund). (d) like as (Structural Error: Non-existent phrase).
12 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The collocation dismiss something AS something means to reject an idea because you consider it to be that thing. The owner actually treated the request in the capacity of a joke.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Common Mistake: Wrong preposition for this specific verb phrase). (c) alike (Structural Error). (d) as if (Structural Error: Requires a clause).
13 (b) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): Use like + Noun/Pronoun as a preposition to show similarity (“similar to me”).
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Common Mistake: “as me” is grammatically incorrect for comparisons unless phrased as “as I am/do”). (c) such as (Used for examples, not direct comparison). (d) as if (Structural Error).
14 (b) as / like
- Why it is correct (The Key): This sentence explains the core difference. “I work as a waiter” means my actual job is a waiter. “I work like a waiter” means I work hard serving people, but my actual job title is something else.
- Error Analysis: (a) like / as (Meaning Trap: Reverses the logic entirely). (c) as / as if (Structural Error). (d) like / alike (Structural Error).
15 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): When writing a resume, you list the actual, official job titles you held. Therefore, you must use as + Job Title.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: Writing “like a Customer Service Representative” on a resume implies you never held the official title). (c) as to (Meaning Error). (d) alike (Structural Error).
16 (d) As
- Why it is correct (The Key): This is a fixed expression: As is often the case (meaning: as usually happens).
- Error Analysis: (a) Like (Common Mistake: Students often assume ‘like’ should be used because it means “similar to the usual case,” but this specific idiom strictly requires “As”). (b) Which (Grammatical error at the beginning of a sentence). (c) As if (Structural Error).
17 (d) as if
- Why it is correct (The Key): Use as if + a past perfect clause (I had committed) to express an unreal or hypothetical situation (the author did not actually commit a crime).
- Error Analysis: (a) just like (Structural Error: Usually followed by a noun or gerund). (b) like as (Structural Error). (c) as (Common Mistake).
18 (b) as / like
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Regarded AS a reliable employee” means they were genuinely seen in that actual role. “Paid LIKE a beginner” means their salary was similar to a beginner’s, even though they were no longer an actual beginner.
- Error Analysis: (a) like / as (Meaning Trap: Reverses the meaning). (c) as / as (Meaning Trap: Being paid “as a beginner” would mean their official contract status was still a beginner, which contradicts the context of being an experienced, reliable employee). (d) like / like (Common Mistake).
19 (a) as / like
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Treat someone AS a VIP” means to treat them in the capacity/role of a VIP (company policy dictates they hold that status). “Behaved LIKE jerks” compares their behavior to jerks (showing similarity in attitude).
- Error Analysis: (b) like / as (Meaning Trap). (c) as if / alike (Structural Error). (d) as / as (Common Mistake).
20 (b) as / like
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Serving AS a waiter” describes the actual role/job. “Felt LIKE quitting” uses the structure feel like + V-ing, meaning to have the desire or urge to do something.
- Error Analysis: (a) like / as (Meaning Trap). (c) as if / as (Structural Error). (d) like / alike (Structural Error).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- AS = The Reality (Actual Role/Identity):
- Use As + Job title/Profession/Noun to state what someone or something REALLY is. It describes the genuine function or capacity.
- Example: “I work as a tutor.” (I am officially a tutor and get paid for it).
- Common verbs used with As: work as, serve as, act as, be hired as, use something as…
- LIKE = The Similarity (Comparison):
- Use Like + Noun/Pronoun to compare two things that are similar, but NOT actually the same in reality.
- Example: “I work like a dog.” (I work very hard, similar to a dog—but in reality, I am a human).
- Sensory verbs typically take Like: look like, feel like, sound like, behave like, treat someone like…
- As if / As though:
- These are conjunctions and must always be followed by a Clause (Subject + Verb). They are used to describe hypothetical or unreal situations.
- Example: “He yelled at me as if I had committed a crime.”
- Important Fixed Phrases:
- As is often the case (As usually happens).
- Regard/View/Dismiss something as… (To consider something to be…).
- Feel like + V-ing (To have the urge or desire to do something).