As vs Like: Choose by Real Role or Similarity
This drill trains you to decide whether a person or thing has an actual or assigned role, function, or classification, or only resembles something else in appearance, sound, behaviour, style, or operation. Use the anchor before choosing.
Similarity without the same identity or function = like
Choose as
Use as when the sentence gives someone or something a real, assigned, temporary, official, or formally recognised role. Common patterns include work as, serve as, act as, use as, and classify as.
Choose like
Use like when the sentence compares appearance, sound, behaviour, style, performance, or operation. The person or thing resembles the comparison, but does not hold that real identity or function.
How to find the anchor
Do not choose only from the job title or comparison noun beside the blank. First decide what the complete sentence says about the person or thing: is the role or function real, assigned, or formally recognised, or is the sentence describing resemblance only?
Officially hired for the procurement position, Ms. Mori works ___ a procurement specialist at the Osaka branch.
Answer: asOfficially hired for the procurement position, is the anchor. The sentence establishes an actual employment role, so works as a procurement specialist is required.
Although it is only a display model, the unit looks ___ a fully operational printer.
Answer: likeAlthough it is only a display model, is the anchor. The unit only resembles a real printer; it does not have the same working identity or function, so looks like is required.
The choices contrast as with like. Tap the real-role, actual-function, formal-classification, or similarity anchor before choosing.
What your result reveals
Your score shows whether you identified a real or assigned role, function, or formal classification, or recognised that the sentence described similarity only. Use the Review to check the complete situation before comparing as with like.
If as caused problems
Review patterns that establish a real capacity or function: work as, serve as, act as, use as, introduce as, record as, and classify as. The role may be temporary, assigned, incorrect, or formal without being permanent employment.
If like caused problems
Review patterns that describe resemblance: look like, sound like, feel like, speak like, behave like, perform like, and operate like. Similarity does not give the person or thing the same real identity.
If false anchors or timing caused problems
You may be choosing from the job title or comparison noun beside the blank. First find evidence of hiring, appointment, assignment, use, or classification, or evidence of appearance, sound, behaviour, or similar operation. Then make the real-role-or-similarity decision.
Use the Review in this order: check the correct answer, identify the exact role, function, classification, or similarity anchor, read why that anchor points to as or like, then compare the complete sentence with the rejected choice.