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As/ like/ How: Which one to use - English lesson

AS/ LIKE/ HOW?: which one to use? 

These three words are disturbing to you... You never know which one to use.

1. AS and LIKE express a comparison, but are not used in the same way: in principle, and ALWAYS in :pgb , AS (the subordinate conjunction) is followed by a subject and a verb, 
- As you can see... As he said..., As Paula did... 

 " Like he said..." , " like Paula did ... " :pus , are currently heard, especially in the United States, but should be avoided at all cost in Europe for exams, competitive exams and job interviews (unless you apply to an American company, of course!  )

Still following the British language orthodoxy, (the Queen's English), LIKE, (a preposition) is followed by a noun to express a comparison.

- Frankly speaking, there aren't many students like you... You're dream students...

2. HOW expresses an exclamation or an interrogation: 

a) How: the direct interrogative : you inquire about a person's health or progress. How is then followed by a question mark.

- How's your mother now? Much better, she'll be released from hospital tomorrow.

b) How: the indirect interrogative: 

- I wonder how he'll come back home at this late hour. = Je me demande comment il rentrera à la maison à cette heure tardive. 

*   BEWARE: notice that after HOW, the indirect interrogative pronoun, you musn't have a question  mark. 

c) HOW + adjective may also introduce a conjunctive subordinate.The value of the subordinate (manner, time, quantity, frequency...) depends of the nuance given by the adjective. 

- I know how tired he is, but it's too early to send him to bed. 

 There you are... I do hope I've managed to help you understand the distinctions between  the different expressions.   The exercise will help you to test yourself! Go for it and good luck!   

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1. AsHowLikeI don't know hungry he looks! Give him some milk and a little food.
2. Brenda couldn't understand anything we were telling Patrick, howlikeasI don't know she had never learnt a word of English.
3. He asked me howaslikeI don't know important it was for me to meet her today.
4. LikeHowAsI don't know he had promised to do it, he asked her to marry him in three months.
5. Do aslikehowI don't know you please. You don't have to ask for permission.
6. He has explained howlikeasI don't know important it was for him to be the boss.
7. Nobody understands likehowasI don't know he could win the race without cheating.
8. Do howlikeasI don't know him, but don't do howaslikeI don't know your parents... They're wrong!
9. HowLikeAsI don't know Paul had predicted, Max didn't know aslikehowI don't know to answer the question and simply did aslikehowI don't know his friend.