AS - LIKE - AS IF - AS THOUGH - SUCH AS 1

Theory:
The words AS and LIKE have very similar meanings in some structures but very different meanings in
others.
This can cause some confusion.

AS and LIKE are often used to compare actions or situations.

For example:
He sings LIKE a professional.
This means he sounds like but isn't a professional.

For this function, AS cannot be used because AS applies only to jobs or functions.
For example:
He works AS a waiter.
This means he is a waiter, not that he resembles one.

A common sentence in English is:

I have been working LIKE a dog.
This means I have been working very hard, because dogs work hard.
If LIKE was replaced by AS, the sentence would be:
I have been working AS a dog.
This means I have been doing exactly what a dog does, which doesn't make sense.

A common use of AS is in comparisons.

For example:
He is AS big AS his brother.
AS big AS means the same size.
In this construction, AS connot be replaced by LIKE.

When used for comparisons, Like means SIMILAR TO and AS means IN THE SAME WAY.

Exercises:
She eats _____________________a bird.

He plays _____________________a goal keeper.

They are not _____________________ happy _____________________ before.