The use of the word like in English. All meanings of the word “like” in English

Well, what can you say about this "like"? This word is well known to everyone, even to those who do not know English at all and have never studied it, and for many this word is associated with thumbs up or hearts on social networks. We even say in Russian “put likes”.

Native English speakers often use the word LIKE, let's look at all the meanings and how this or that meaning is translated into Russian.

Meaning "like"

The first and probably the most common meaning is the use of the verb in the meaning of “like”, “to enjoy some kind of action”. = enjoy.

I like your hairstyle. - I like your hairstyle.

When another verb follows the like verb, it often takes the form of a gerund (ending -ing).

He likes playing football.

By the way, option He likes to play football is also possible, especially in American English.

Meaning "habit"

The next meaning is "to consider something as a good idea", "to have a habit of doing something". That is, here we do not necessarily enjoy some action, we try to do this because it is right in our opinion or we often do this, this is our habit. In this sense, after the verb like, the following verb is always used only in the form of an infinitive with a particle to.

Compare:

I like to do exercises every morning. - I like doing exercises every morning (maybe I don't enjoy the process itself, but I like the idea, I think it's good for me and I do it all the time).

I like doing exercises. - I like doing exercises (I enjoy the process).

I like to go to the doctor twice a year. - I like going to the doctor twice a year (not that I enjoy it, but it's a good idea, I do it all the time).

Having said I like going to the doctor you mean that you enjoy it. I have never met such people

In the construction "I would like"

Very often native English speakers instead of I want- "I want" is used I would like (I'd like)- “I would like” - this sounds more polite and formal, that is, more appropriate as a request or offer in restaurants, cafes and all kinds of establishments. After would like either a noun or an infinitive with a particle is used to.

Also remember that would is a strong verb, which means that it will be involved in the construction of negatives and questions. (In the previous versions, an auxiliary verb is used: Do you like smth/doing smth? I don't like smth/doing something).

I'd like a cup of coffee, please.

What would you like to order, sir?

As a preposition or union

Like- optionally a verb, it can be a preposition or conjunction "like" and is often used after verbs look , sound , feel , etc.

He looks like a doctor. - He looks like a doctor.

She looks like an actress. - She looks like an actress.

You just sounded like your mother. - You just said (sounded) just like your mother.

What does she look like? - How she looks like?

I feel like dancing. - I don't mind dancing.

In conjunction with the verb "be"

Note, like in the meaning of “how” can be used simply with the linking verb “be”, which is also strong and participates in the construction of questions and denials:

What is she like? - What is she like? (describe) (Not what does she like?)

What is it like living abroad? - What is it like to live abroad?

What is the weather like? - What's the weather like? (describe)

He was like: "I don't know." And I was like: "Neither do I". - He's like (he says), "I don't know." And I'm like (and I say), "Me too."

Important: Some students often ask: "What to use: As or like?» Like and as are translated into Russian “as” and are often confused. The difference between them is that like compares two different things, and as refers to the same thing.

For example:

I work as a teacher. (Me and the teacher are the same person).

Tom is like his father. (Tom and his father are two different people).

As an adjective

Word " like" is a representative of grammatical homonyms, this word can be a verb (translated as "like"), a preposition (like), and also (similar). For example,

There is a chance to meet people of like mind. - There is a chance to meet people of similar views.

Use like as an adjective, it is very often found in comparative constructions as like as:

They are as like as two peas. - They look like two drops of water (literally translated as "peas")

As like as chalk and cheese - Look like a nail to a memorial service (i.e. nothing in common; literally - like chalk and cheese).

And be sure to take the test.

With best wishes, your Polina 4lang.

In conclusion, as always, a video tutorial

In Russian, we do a comparison of something with the help of the word "how":
“She bought a dress like mine. He swims like a fish. She looks like her father. Your perfume smells like a rose."

To say that someone is like someone or does something in a similar way, in English you need to use words like and as.

However, these words, although they have a very similar translation, mean different things and are used in different situations.

In this article, I will explain how to use them correctly and explain the difference between them so that you do not make mistakes when using them.

From the article you will learn:

Using like in English

Like

• Pronunciation:[ˈlaɪk] / [laik]
• Translation: Like, like, like
• Meaning: Be the same or do the same as someone else

We use like when comparing different people or things. That is, despite their similarity, they will be different people/objects.

For example:

You look like a cover star (meaning you look alike, but you're not her. We're talking about two different people).

We use the word like when we say that:

1. One person/object is similar to another person/object

Your daughter is just like you.

2. One person/thing does something in the same way as another person/thing

She tries to dance like a TV dancer.

Words commonly used with like

Since we often compare tastes, appearance, sound, the following words often appear before the word like:

• look - looks
• sound - sounds
• feel - felt
• taste - has a taste
• seem - it seems

For example:

You sound like my wife.
You sound like my wife.

The park looked like a jungle.
The park looked like a jungle.

The fruit taste like strawberry.
This fruit tastes like a strawberry.

This feels like silk.
It feels like silk to the touch.

It seemed like a dream.
It seemed like a dream.

What to put after like?

Like is usually followed by:

• Person or object (answers the question “who? / what?”)

For example:

I think it tastes like coconut.
I think it tastes like coconut.

She dresses like that model.
She dresses like that model.

• Words that replace a person or object (for example, instead of a friend - he). In English, these are

me - I
you - you
us - we
them - they
him - he
her - she
it - it

For example:

You are like him.
You are just like him.

She plays like us.
She plays like us.

Use of as in English

As

• Pronunciation:[æz] / [ez]
• Translation: As well as
• Meaning: Do something as someone

We use the word as when we are talking about the same person or thing. We say that one object or person has a role or is needed for some purpose.

For example:

He worked as a cashier last summer (he was a cashier, so it's the same person).

In doing so, we can say that:

1. He functions as someone

This summer she worked as a waiter.

2. Used as something

He used the stone as a hammer.

They chose Peter as a captain.
We chose Peter as captain (literally: We chose Peter as captain).

He works as a doctor.
He works as a doctor (literally: He works like a doctor).

Also, as is often used in the as…as or not as…as constructs, which I told you about in another article.

What is the difference between like and as?

We use the word like when we talk about similarity several different people or things .

For example:

She looks like a teacher in this suit.
She looks like a teacher in this costume (she is not a teacher, she and the teacher are two different people).

We use the word as when we speak about one person or thing , performing some role or being used for something.

For example:

She works as a teacher.
She works as a teacher (she is a teacher, that is, this is one person).

Let's take another look at the usage of these words in the table:

So, we have analyzed the words like and as, and now let's practice using them.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

1. My friend works as an accountant.
2. My cat is like a little tiger.
3. She dresses like a boy.
4. You don't look like a teacher.
5. She worked as a salesperson for 2 years.
6. You can use the bottle as a vase.

Let's talk about two words that can be difficult in some cases. Namely, to put before a choice - which of them to use in a certain situation. It's about words like and as in English, which can be translated as follows: how, what, since, similar. These two words may be different parts of speech, but we will be interested in using like as an English preposition and application as not only as a pretext, but also as an alliance. How are these two parts of speech different? When exactly is it necessary to work with one preposition, and when with another?

Like in English

As already mentioned, like is a preposition, which means that this word is followed by ( like a star,like your business), (like you, like that) or ( like singing). You can work with this design - like somebody / something + verb-ing.

She is like her mother. - She looks like her mother.

It's just like him. “It looks so much like him.

There's nothing like walking to keep you fit. There is nothing better for health than walking.

Do you hear the noise? It sounds like a girl shouting. – Can you hear the noise? It's like the girl is screaming.

The crowd buzzed like a swarm of bees. The crowd was buzzing like a swarm of bees.

You can ask a reasonable question, why is it used here like, but not as, because this word is also translated "how"? Yes, they translate, and it has the same meaning. But there is a small but significant difference. We use like when comparing two different things. For example:

Her perfume smells like oranges. Her perfume smells like citrus. (but these are perfumes, not oranges, they are two different things)

BUT as we take when we are talking about something or someone of the same thing. It's about something real, something real. Often it refers to the work or the way the item is used. For example:

Several years ago I worked as a taxi driver. A few years ago I worked as a taxi driver. (I and the taxi driver are one person)

We had so many bouquets of flowers that we decided to use two bottles as vases for them. We had so many bouquets of flowers that we decided to use two bottles as vases for them. (bottle and vase are the same item)

This is the main difference like and as in English.

Of course the word like- this is not only a pretext, but also the well-known verb “like” to all of us. But this part of the speech is not the topic of this article, so we will not touch on it. About you can read in the articles dedicated to them on our blog.

As in English

Word as can be not only a preposition, but also other parts of speech. For example, union. As mentioned earlier, the word company like constitutes a noun, pronoun, or gerund. But as we use if it is followed by a subject with a verb that is usually a predicate. Compare the following sentences:

He's really a good runner. He runs like a lynx. “He is a really good runner. He runs like a lynx. (after like comes a noun)

Jane's decision seemed a good one, so we did as she advised. Jane's decision seemed appropriate, so we did as she advised. (after as comes the subject with the predicate - the verb)

Pay attention to the phrase as usual(as usual), which is used in this form. And remember, combined such as word as has a different meaning - "for example".

Usually, when it comes to comparing adjectives and adverbs, the first thing that comes to mind is degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs , in particular comparative and superlative degrees. And few people realize that the positive degree of comparison, that is, the original form of an adjective or adverb, can also be used in comparison. The positive degree is used in comparative constructions as...as,notso...as.

as ... as

This structure corresponds to the Russian formulations "the same ... as ...", "so ... as far as" or just comparison using the union "how". Thus, this construction is used to express equality or inequality two objects. For a comparative design as…as the following patterns of use are typical:

If with expression object equality everything is more or less unambiguous (by the way, constructions confirming equality are not so common in speech), then the expression of inequality should be considered separately.

Grammatical structure and meaning of the construction not so … as

As can be seen from the table above, the design as...as occurs in both affirmative and negative sentences. However, there is another structure responsible for expressing inequality, that is, comparison using a positive degree of comparison in negative sentences - notso…as. This construction means not like… like”, “not quite like… like” and is used only in negative sentences:

Since in modern English, due to the globalization of its use, there are tendencies towards simplification, and the construction as...as can be used in all types of sentences, including negative ones, then the use of the structure notso…as observed less and less.

Expression of inequality: adjectives

To show that two objects are not the same in one or another quality or property, you can use the structure notas + adjective +as or notso + adjective +a s. In this case, the first of the compared objects “to a lesser extent” exhibits one or another characteristic. The order of the compared objects is reversed than when comparing using comparative adjective +than. Compare:

If the predicate in such a negative sentence is expressed using verb to be , then it is permissible to use both an abbreviated construction (two types) and a complete one.

It isn't as old as…
It's not as old as…

It isnot so old as…

Inequality expression: verb + adverb

The structure can be used to compare unequal actions verb ++as + adverb +as or verb ++so + adverb +as. The order of compared objects (actions) here will also be reversed compared to the construction than. Compare:

Inequality: quantity expression

Constructions not as...as,notso...as often used to express inequalities in scores with words such as much and many .

such + phrase with noun + as

Sometimes instead as/so applied such(such). This happens if there is a phrase with a noun inside the "comparative frame":

Strengthening and weakening equality / inequality using adverbs nearly, quite, just, nowhere near

When we want to show that the differences between the compared objects are significant or, conversely, very small, then the comparative constructions described in this article are supplemented with adverbs nearly - almost, at all; quite - quite, practically; just - exactly; nowhere near - not at all, by no means, by no means.

The difference between as and like is often unclear to a Russian speaker, as is the use of some other English prepositions and conjunctions. Indeed, often their Russian counterpart is used differently. For example, in Russian we do not omit "which", and in English that is often not used, which we wrote about in detail in the article "When you can omit that" . Russian "how" in English corresponds to how / as / like. And if everything is clear with how (the question word "How are you?" - How are you? or the union "She showed me how to do it" - She showed me how to do it) everything is clear, then the difference between as and like in English remains riddle! Let's try to solve it in a simple and understandable way.

LIKE AND AS = prepositions(+ pronouns, nouns or gerunds)

Like It means "similar to something, similar to something". Used for comparison.
He speaks like a native speaker. - He speaks like a native speaker.

She looks like a celebrity. - She looks like a celebrity.

Reading this book is like speaking to an old friend. - Reading this book is like talking to an old friend.

As is "as". We are interested in the role/function.
She works as a secretary. - She works as a secretary.

The sea can be used as a source of energy. - The sea can be used as a source of energy.

She used family photos as the only decoration of her walls. - She used family photos as the only decoration on her walls.

The difference between them is very big, for example:

I've been working as a dog - will sound very strange, as it suggests that you worked as a dog, did its job! That's right - I "ve been working like a dog (similar).

Compare:

As your boss, I must warn you to be careful. (I am your boss)

Like your boss, I must warn you to be careful. (I'm not your boss, but just like him, I have to warn you)

She speaks like a teacher(she is not a teacher).

She speaks as a teacher(she is a teacher).

LIKE AND AS = unions(+ subject + predicate)

As a union, we usually use as (= in the same way that):
Nobody paints as he does. Nobody draws like him.

It started raining as we said it would. - It started to rain, as we predicted.

In American English, like is often used instead of as, however, this is considered abnormal and a feature of the spoken language:

She needs the money, like I do, so she works overtime. - She needs money, like me, so she recycles.

I hope you'll not get ill again, like you did when we went to Paris. "I hope you don't get sick like the last time we went to Paris."

AS IF/AS THOUGH- as if

After as if/as though Subjunctive II is used.
She walks as if she were a model. - She walks like she's a model.

He spends money as if he owned a fortune. He spends money like he has a fortune.

An exercise:

1. After university I had a job __ a waiter for 2 months.

2. She is a real pain! I can "t imagine her __ a nurse.
3. He behaved __ a fool and we got lost in the forest.
4. I woke up early, __ I knew I would.
5. Why do you talk to me __ I were a child?
6. There was heavy snow __ in the previous year according to my friends.
7. She is eighty but she behaves __ she was much younger than she is.
8. What are you cooking? It smells __ Indian food.
9. You look terrible! You look __ you have seen a ghost.
10. He lost his keys yesterday but __ I expected he found them one hour later.
11. She sings __ an angel.
12. I "m much better __ you can see.
13. My sister is not at all __ me.
14. My daughter is just __ my sister.
15. I "m attending the meeting __ an observer.
16. I use one of the bedrooms __ an office.
17. You are very much __ your mother.
18. I hope to qualify __ an engineer.
19. My friend Rob looks __ John Travolta.
20. There is too much traffic in London __ in New York.
21. We "re late for the train. We" ll have to run __ the wind.
22. I "m your friend and, __ a friend, I advise you to think again.
23. I don't know you as well as he does but, __ your friend, I advise you to think again.
24. You don't like confrontations, __ me.
25. I want to join the air force __ a pilot.
26. We need a strong leader __ Winston Churchill.
27. He has gone to our competitors __ marketing manager.
28. I "ve appointed Simon Williams __ the new trustee.
29. I "ve done the work __ we agreed.
30. I was sure, __ was everybody else, that you would do well in this job.

Many grammatical phenomena of the English language can be incomprehensible when you study English on your own. If you are worried about the lack of progress in learning English, you should start studying with a teacher. Especially if this is an English teacher on Skype, because it is much more efficient and more convenient than other methods. Skype English school Lingvistov is professional teachers, modern material and flexible schedule.

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