As and like are used in a number of different ways and can be

different parts of speech.

'as' and 'like' - prepositions
As refers to something or someone's appearance or function.
Consider the following examples:
'Before I became a teacher I worked as a waiter.'
'I'm going to the fancy dress party as Superman.'
'The sea can be used as a source of energy.'
The expression 'I'e been working as a dog' sounds unusual
because it suggests that you were doing the work of a dog!
Like has the meaning 'similar to' and is used when comparing
things. "ook at these examples:
'I#e been working like a dog.'
'She looks a bit like her brother.'
'$ust like you% I#m always a bit wary of large dogs.'
The expression 'I'e been working like a dog' is idiomatic and
means that you hae been working ery hard. &ote that we can
use aderbs of degree% such as just% very% quite% not
much%not at all% a bit% etc% to modify like:
''e#s ery serious ( not at all like his father% perhaps
more like his mother at times.

'as' and 'like' - conjunctions
As and like can also be used as con)unctions:
As means 'in the same way that'. Consider the following:
'I always drink tea without milk% )ust as they do on the
continent.'
'Try to keep your balance on the tightrope% as I do% by
spreading out your fingers like this.'
'The first ten days of $uly were ery wet this
year% as they were last year and the year before.'
In informal *nglish% like is used in the same way. This is
particularly common in +merican *nglish. Consider the following:
'&obody else would look after you like I do% baby!'
'She needs the money% like I do% so she works in a bar in
the eenings.'
'I hope you#re not going to be sick again% like you were
when we went to Brighton.
"ike or +s.
This is another instance where a simple rule will help you to make sense of something that
many people still get wrong.
Like is a preposition ,don't panic-% which means that it can come before a noun but it
should not come before a whole clause containing a erb. As is a con)unction% and can be
used before a clause containing a erb.
As I told you% the car was parked behind a tree.
.e could take a trip to the coast% )ust like old times.
As we thought% the weather was awful.
In formal academic text% you should aoid using 'like' in a sentence like this one.
It looks like it is going to rain.
The hero feels like he is the most powerful man on earth.
'e looks like he has had a rough night.
It is better to substitute 'like' with 'as if'
It looks as if it is going to rain.
The hero feels as if he is the most powerful man on earth.
'e looks as if he has had a rough night.
.hen listing things that are similar it is better to aoid 'like' and use 'such as'% as in these
examples.
The hero has many engaging /ualities like courage% kindness and compassion.
The hero has many engaging /ualities such as courage% kindness and compassion.
I hae isited many tropical countries like India% Sri "anka% Thailand% 0alaysia and Brunei.
I hae isited many tropical countries such as India% Sri "anka% Thailand% 0alaysia and
Brunei.
In this country we eat a lot of )unk food like chips% hamburgers and other rubbish.
In this country we eat a lot of )unk food such as chips% hamburgers and other rubbish.