Today, we're going to look at comparisons. And the reason I want to do this is because I've noticed that

many people make a very common mistake when they're talking about comparisons. So first,

there are two types of comparisons; two ways of comparing, okay?

And we're going to focus on one of them. We're going to focus on the difference between "like" and "as".

But I also want to look at this a little bit: "more than", or "____-er than", "as something as," et cetera.

because I want to make sure that you understand that these are two different ways of comparing, okay?

So when we use "more," and usually an adjective -- "more"+ adjective + "than", for example,

"This car is more expensive than that car", or "-er" - "This car is cheaper than that car."

Or "as ____ as" - "This car is as expensive as that car", okay?

What we are comparing with these ones, we're comparing "qualities": speed, height, weight,

cost, shape, and so on. When we use "like" and "as", we are comparing things to things.

We are comparing actions to actions, okay?

The big thing, the big difference you have to pay attention to is, don't mix "than" with "as" or "like", okay?

And don't mix this "as _____ as", with this "as", okay? That's the main thing we want to concentrate on.

So let's look at "like" and "as". What is the difference between these two? "Like" is a preposition.

It is always followed by a noun, okay? "The flower is blue like the sky",

okay? We're talking about comparing the two things.

"As" is always followed by a clause. "As" is a conjunction followed by a clause.

If you remember: what is a clause? Yes, it is a group of words that must include a subject and a verb, okay?

So "as", subject, and verb. "She treats me as I would like to be treated",

okay? We're talking about the treatment, how she treats me. How I want to be treated.

Those are the two things we're comparing, okay?

So before I give you some more examples, a very common expression in English.

I want you to tell me which is the correct one: "Do as I say, not as I do";

or "Do like I say, not like I do". Which of these is correct?

If you guessed the first one, you're right. Because it's "as" + subject + verb. That is a clause, okay?

But before I continue, I want to say one thing to you, and I hope this makes you feel a little bit better about yourself.

Native English speakers mix these two all the time.

So if you're studying grammar and you're listening to native English speakers, and you're trying

to understand the difference, and they use this one (like) incorrectly many times, don't worry about it.

Many people use "like" when they should use "as" but they don't even realize it.

It is so common that it's becoming almost acceptable. It's wrong, but acceptable.

Anyway, we're going to look at a few more examples, and then you'll understand better the difference between "like" and "as".

Okay, so here we have a few more examples to really show you how the differences work between "like" and "as" and

what you have to pay attention to. So first let's look at these examples.

"He looks like a Martian." What am I comparing here? What am I comparing?

I'm comparing "he" and "Martian" -- same look, right?

But I'm comparing two people and that's why I'm using "like", okay? "He speaks like a preacher."

If you're not really sure what a preacher is, a preacher stands in a church

and says, "Oh you should do this and you should do that, because..." well, probably God, but hey, it's up to them.

"He speaks like a preacher." So he and the preacher are very similar. "He speaks as a preacher does",

so here remember, subject and verb. Are the sentences the same? Not exactly.

Here we're comparing him and a preacher. Here we're comparing speaking styles, the way they speak, okay?

So because of the way he speaks, him and the preacher are very similar -- "like".

But his speaking, his action, and the preacher's action are very similar, okay?

So because he speaks as a preacher does, he is like the preacher. I hope that makes sense, good.

"She treats me like a dog." So before I said she treats me as I want to be treated, but

sometimes she treats me like a dog. So what am I comparing? I'm comparing me and the dog,

we're the same. We receive the same treatment from her.

Okay, now, a little bit more formal and sometimes you'll see this. Somebody says, "Oh, I like it."

And you want to agree. You want to compare your feeling: "as do I". So one thing you have to be careful of,

here the subject and the verb have switched order. You have the verb first, the subject second.

This is quite acceptable, very formal.

If you're not sure how to use it, especially in writing, don't use it. Somebody says,

"Uh,who came to the party?" "Well, Linda came, as did Tom and Jerry."

The cat and the mouse, I'm not sure if you know them.

But "as did Tom and Jerry" -- the verb came first, the subject came second -- very formal.

Otherwise, if you don't want to do it, "I like it." "I do, too." Easier, no "as".

Or, "He speaks as Kennedy used to." So we're talking about Kennedy's grandson.

We saw him give a speech to a large audience. We say "Wow, he speaks as his father used to", right?

It means in the same way, the same approach, the same aura, the same carriage.

Okay, so that's one thing. Now sometimes you might see "as if" or "as though".

Basically, it means you're comparing an unreal situation, right? "She is shopping as if there were no tomorrow."

So A; you have the "if" with the word, the subjunctive, that's a whole other lesson.

You can keep that in mind. But "as if there were no tomorrow": you have a full clause after the "as if".

So it's sort of like "like", but it's such an unreal situation,

and then we're talking about an action that we use "as if", okay?

Again, there's no real clause here, because of the inversion, but just remember it's an unreal situation.

But having said that, most native speakers will not say this.

Most, or I don't know most, but many native speakers will say "She is shopping like there's no tomorrow."

What does it mean? Tomorrow everybody's going to die, so she wants to get as much things today as she can.

It's a very common expression. Most people understand this expression as "like".

"Like" is incorrect, but acceptable.

One last thing I want to mention. A whole different use of "as" and "like".

"As your boss" -- because I want you to understand this, so there's no confusion --

"as" here means "in the position of". So here "as" is not a comparison.

It is a preposition telling you 「I'm in this position".

So "as your boss" -- I am your boss, I have the power to forbid you from using Facebook at work.

But if you say "like your boss", then you're comparing. Then you're showing a similarity--"like" your boss.

So your boss thinks this. I agree, I think so too.

So "Like your boss, I forbid you from using Facebook at work." Maybe I'm the assistant boss.

He's the president, I'm the vice president. "Like him", means I agree with him, we are similar.

"...you can't use Facebook at work." And if you do use Facebook at work, be careful -- a lot of bosses think like this.

Okay, so if you have any more questions go to www.engvid.com . There's a quiz there. You can practice more of this stuff.

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