Like vs. As – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read the advice given by a friend to a professional who is being micromanaged and disrespected at work. Choose the best option to complete the sentences.
1 You shouldn’t let the manager treat you ______ an incompetent child; you are a highly skilled professional!
(a) as
(b) like
(c) as if
(d) similar
2 Remember your actual worth. The company officially hired you ______ the Lead Designer, not a personal assistant.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) to be as
(d) as being
3 Every time you make a minor mistake, he reacts ______ you had just destroyed the entire company.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) as if
(d) alike
4 I hate seeing you work ______ a mindless slave just to get his temporary approval.
(a) as
(b) as though
(c) like
(d) such as
5 When he constantly dismisses your brilliant proposals ______ useless ideas, you need to speak up and defend your work.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) as if
(d) alike
6 You are allowing him to use your extra hours of hard work ______ a stepping stone for his own promotion.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) as though
(d) just like
7 During yesterday’s meeting, he watched your every move exactly ______ a hawk hunting its prey.
(a) as
(b) similar to
(c) like
(d) as if
8 Please stop acting ______ a helpless victim and start setting clear professional boundaries.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) as if
(d) to be
9 Outside of this toxic office, you are widely regarded ______ one of the most talented developers in the industry.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) alike
(d) as though
10 It makes me furious when he talks down to you, ______ your ten years of experience mean absolutely nothing.
(a) as
(b) as though
(c) like
(d) like as
11 Why are you accepting a salary that pays you ______ a junior beginner, when you actually do the work of a senior?
(a) like
(b) as
(c) as if
(d) similar
12 Listen to me. I am speaking to you right now ______ a true friend who cares about your mental health.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) as to
(d) as being
13 You should treat his excessive micromanagement ______ a major red flag and start updating your resume.
(a) like
(b) as if
(c) as
(d) alike
14 He constantly criticizes your perfectly good work, intentionally making you feel ______ an absolute failure.
(a) as
(b) like
(c) as if
(d) similar to
15 ______ is often the case with insecure leaders, he takes credit for your successes and blames you for his failures.
(a) Like
(b) Which
(c) As if
(d) As
16 Your skills and contributions are exactly ______ valuable ______ his, so stop letting him intimidate you.
(a) like / like
(b) as / as
(c) as / like
(d) like / as
17 Whether he admits it or not, you serve ______ the backbone of that team; without you, the project would collapse.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) as if
(d) alike
18 When he raises his voice, just look at him calmly. Do not behave ______ a scared rabbit.
(a) as
(b) as if
(c) like
(d) similar
19 I know you respect authority, but you do not have to function ______ his personal servant to keep your job.
(a) like
(b) as
(c) alike
(d) as if
20 It is time to demand that he treats you ______ an equal partner, rather than treating you ______ a disposable tool.
(a) like / as
(b) as / like
(c) as / as
(d) like / like
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): Treat someone like + Noun means to treat someone similarly to something they are not. You are a professional, not an incompetent child, so “like” is required for this negative comparison.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Meaning Trap: “Treat as a child” would mean you literally are a child). (c) as if (Structural Error: Needs a full subject+verb clause). (d) similar (Structural Error).
2 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): Hired AS + Noun denotes your actual, official job title or capacity.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: Means you were hired to do things similar to a Lead Designer, but hold a different title). (c) to be as (Structural Error). (d) as being (Structural Error).
3 (c) as if
- Why it is correct (The Key): As if (or as though) introduces a hypothetical or unreal situation followed by a clause (“you had just destroyed”).
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Structural Error: Cannot introduce a hypothetical clause like this). (b) like (Common Mistake: While common in informal speech, B2/C1 grammar requires “as if” before a hypothetical clause). (d) alike (Structural Error).
4 (c) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Working like a slave” is a simile. You are not legally a slave, but your extreme effort is similar to one.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Meaning Trap: “Work as a slave” would literally mean your official status is a slave). (b) as though (Structural Error: Needs a clause). (d) such as (Used for giving examples).
5 (a) 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: (b) like (Common Mistake: Wrong preposition for this specific verb phrase). (c) as if (Structural Error). (d) alike (Structural Error).
6 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The collocation use something AS something assigns an actual function to an object/concept. Your work is literally functioning as his stepping stone.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: While informally understood, ‘use as’ is the standard fixed collocation). (c) as though (Structural Error). (d) just like (Structural Error).
7 (c) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): A direct visual comparison (watch like a hawk). He is human, not a bird, so like is required to show the similarity in his intense behavior.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Meaning Trap: Literally implies he is a hawk). (b) similar to (Less natural than “like” for behavioral similes). (d) as if (Structural Error).
8 (b) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): Act like + Noun means to behave in a manner similar to something else.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Meaning Trap: “Acting as a victim” implies you have been officially assigned the role of a victim). (c) as if (Structural Error). (d) to be (Structural Error).
9 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The collocation regard someone AS someone means to view or classify someone in their true professional capacity.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: You do not “regard like”; you classify them “as”). (c) alike (Structural Error). (d) as though (Structural Error).
10 (b) as though
- Why it is correct (The Key): As though is synonymous with as if and introduces an unreal clause (“your experience means nothing”).
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Structural Error: ‘As’ would mean it is a factual reality that your experience means nothing). (c) like (Common Mistake: Must be ‘as if/as though’ before a clause). (d) like as (Structural Error).
11 (a) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): You are NOT a junior beginner, so your low salary is being compared to one (“paid like”).
- Error Analysis: (b) as (Meaning Trap: “Paid as a beginner” would mean your official contract status is actually a beginner, which contradicts the premise that you do senior work). (c) as if (Structural Error). (d) similar (Structural Error).
12 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): Speaking AS a friend. The speaker is asserting their true, actual identity and relationship to the listener.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: Implies they are not really a friend, just talking similarly to one). (c) as to (Structural Error). (d) as being (Structural Error).
13 (c) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): Treat something AS something means to classify or handle an issue in a specific capacity. You must classify his behavior as a red flag.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Common Mistake: While ‘treat like’ is used for behavior towards people, ‘treat as’ is the standard for categorizing concepts or items). (b) as if (Structural Error). (d) alike (Structural Error).
14 (b) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): The sensory verb feel requires like when followed by a noun to express a perceived similarity (feel like a failure).
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Meaning Trap: “Feels as” is grammatically incorrect). (c) as if (Structural Error: Requires a full clause). (d) similar to (Structural Error).
15 (d) As
- Why it is correct (The Key): This is a fixed, highly formal phrase: As is often the case (meaning “which is a common situation”).
- Error Analysis: (a) Like (Common Mistake: A direct, incorrect translation of “similar to the case”). (b) Which (Grammatical error given the sentence structure). (c) As if (Structural Error).
16 (b) as / as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The standard structure for equal comparison of adjectives is as + adjective + as (as valuable as).
- Error Analysis: (a) like / like (Common Mistake: Translating word-for-word from native languages). (c) as / like (Structural Error). (d) like / as (Structural Error).
17 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): The collocation serve AS something means to perform the actual function or role of that thing. You are literally the backbone of the team.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap: “Serve like” is grammatically incorrect here). (c) as if (Structural Error). (d) alike (Structural Error).
18 (c) like
- Why it is correct (The Key): Behave like + Noun. A simile comparing human reaction to an animal.
- Error Analysis: (a) as (Meaning Trap: Literally implies you are a rabbit). (b) as if (Structural Error). (d) similar (Structural Error).
19 (b) as
- Why it is correct (The Key): Function AS + Noun means to operate in that actual role. You should not perform the actual duties of a servant.
- Error Analysis: (a) like (Meaning Trap). (c) alike (Structural Error). (d) as if (Structural Error).
20 (b) as / like
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Treat you AS an equal partner” means you demand the actual status and respect of a partner (Reality). “Treating you LIKE a disposable tool” compares you to an object (Similarity/Simile).
- Error Analysis: (a) like / as (Meaning Trap: Reverses the meaning). (c) as / as (Meaning Trap: He cannot literally treat you “as” a tool because you are a human being). (d) like / like (Common Mistake).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- AS = The Reality & True Capacity:
- Use As + Job title/Role/Noun to state what someone REALLY is or what function something truly serves. In the workplace, this establishes your true worth.
- Example: “I work as a senior developer.” (This is my actual job).
- Key Collocations: Hired as, serve as, function as, regard as, dismiss as, treat (a concept) as.
- LIKE = The Similarity & Negative Comparisons:
- Use Like + Noun/Pronoun to compare two things that are fundamentally different. It is highly effective for pointing out unfair or demeaning treatment.
- Example: “He treats me like a child.” (I am not a child, but his behavior is similar to how one treats a child).
- Sensory & Action Verbs: Always use look like, sound like, feel like, act like, behave like before a noun.
- AS IF / AS THOUGH = The Hypothetical:
- These conjunctions must be followed by a Clause (Subject + Verb). Use them to describe situations that are not true, often to criticize a toxic person’s attitude.
- Example: “He yells as if I had ruined his life.” (I did not ruin his life).
- Fixed Professional Phrases:
- As is often the case (Which is a common situation).
- As… As… (Used for equal comparison: “You are as smart as him”).