As means “in the role of” and describes a real role or function; like means “similar to” and only describes a resemblance. She works as a teacher: she really is a teacher. She talks like a teacher: she sounds like one, but her job could be anything.
as or like — can you pick the right one?
Pick a word and write a sentence — we'll check right away that it fits the meaning and explain any mistakes.
The check is taking longer than usual. Your feedback will appear here automatically.
as + noun (role, job, function: work as, use as); like + noun/pronoun (similarity: look like, sound like, feel like); as + clause (as I said, as you know)
- My sister works as a nurse in a children's hospital.
- You look just like your dad when you smile.
- I used my jacket as a pillow on the night train.
What changed
First versionI worked like a waiter while I was at university.
RevisionI worked as a waiter while I was at university.
Like is often used as an all-purpose word for comparing. But this sentence is about a real job: you were a waiter, so you need as. Worked like a waiter would mean that you worked the way a waiter does, but you weren't one.
Before a whole clause, as means “in the way that”: As I said yesterday, the meeting starts at ten. In conversation people often use like here: Like I said… But in essays and formal letters it's better to keep as.
Your turn
The air conditioning is broken, and our office feels ___ a sauna.
Show the answer
like — The office hasn't turned into a sauna; it just feels similar to one, so it's feels like. As would mean the office really serves as a sauna, and after feel, as isn't used before a noun.
Write about your first job or a part-time job. Name your position using as, and compare something about the job to something else using like.
One summer I worked as a tour guide in Sochi, and some days felt like a marathon.
Learn to use new words without mistakes
Write phrases with the words you are learning. LetsWords shows mistakes in usage and grammar, suggests corrections and explains them, and review helps the words stick.