Like and as

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Magda  #298507  Tue, 28 Nov 06 03:16 PM
Hi,
I am doing "like" and "as" used in comparisions, e.g
"Kate dresses like her mother" and
"Kate dresses as her mother does."

Could you tell me whether these two ( I mean "as" and "like") can ever be used in a sentence interchangeably?

Thank you.
  
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pieanne  #298516  Tue, 28 Nov 06 03:50 PM

I'd say that, in the examples you've given, they are interchangeable.

Yet, if you omit the "does", the meaning changes: "she dresses like her mother" => she wears the same kind of clothes as her mother. // "She dresses as her mother" => she dresses so as to impersonate her mother.

Likewise: "she works like a slave" (that's my favourite example!) => she works as much as a slave does.//"She works as a slave" => that's her job: slave.

I'm not quite sure I've answered your question...  Tongue Tied [:S]

  
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I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos...
Tidus  #298520  Tue, 28 Nov 06 03:57 PM
both seem ok to me, although in the UK we'd be more likely to say "dresses like...", or "dresses the same as...", rather than "dresses as..."
  
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Magda  #298522  Tue, 28 Nov 06 04:02 PM
Hi pieanne,
thanks for your answers Smile [:)]. Yes, I wondered if you can say "she dresses like/as her mother", and thanks to your post I can see that I can use both of them, however, the meaning would be different.
  
Magda  #298523  Tue, 28 Nov 06 04:03 PM
Thanks, Tidus!
  
Magda  #298526  Tue, 28 Nov 06 04:10 PM
I've got another question. Can I say: "Sometimes you sound just like/as my mum!"?
Can I replace "like" with "as"?


  
pieanne  #298528  Tue, 28 Nov 06 04:17 PM

I'd always use "like".

But then, I'm not a native, as you can see!  Smile [:)]

  
J Lewis  #298534  Tue, 28 Nov 06 04:21 PM
Pieanne may not be a native, but she's right!
  
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Magda  #298541  Tue, 28 Nov 06 04:27 PM
Thank you both Smile [:)] .

Have a nice evening!
  
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