Like Vs AS

By Abhishek Tomar on Aug 25, 2009 with Comments 0

GMAT Famous trick when dealing with Comparisons sentence. Till now you might be using “LIKE” and “AS” interchangeable. But from today your world would changed when using “LIKE” and “AS”. Both these word are use interchangeably but in GMAT they are not.
LIKE : Should be used to compare people or things (any nouns)
As : Should be used in a comparison involving clauses. A clause is any phrase that includes a verb. AS can also be used in the construction of AS……..AS
Incorrect: David and Ramya, AS their mother Nancy, are extremely smart.
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Correct: David and Ramya, LIKE their mother Nancy, are extremely smart.
Incorrect : Just LIKE swimming is good exercise, skiing is a great way to burn calories
Correct : Just AS swimming is good exercise, skiing is a great way to burn calories

In the above examples, single noun (David and Ramya & Nancy their mother) are being compared, so LIKE is used. In the second example, clause with the verb TO BE are being compared and AS is required.

Like Vs Such As

When ever you see LIKE in GMAT and it has been used for giving examples, it is WRONG.

Do not use LIKE for giving example instead use SUCH AS.

Parallel Comparison

Now comes the tough part of the Comparison and thing to be taken care when solving the GMAT sentence correction questions. You know how to find Comparison sentences and how to solve them.

Comparison must be logically parallel.

What this means?

This means that the Comparison should be done on similar things.

For Example

David’s build, like his brother, is extremely broad and muscular.

In the above sentences you will find two thing to be Compared. One “Frank’s Build” and the second “His Brother”. You know that these two thing cannot be compared. Like thing should be Compared. How to correct this example, simple keeping the similar things in Comparison.
David, like his brother, has a broad and muscular build
OR
David’s build, like that of his brother, is extremely broad and muscular.

These above sentences are correct because “David” is compared to “his brother” in the first correct sentence. In the second correct sentence “Daivid’s build” is compared to “THAT (the build) of his brother”

Comparisons should be structurally parallel.

This means that sentences should be similar in grammatical structural.
I enjoy flying by plane more than I like to drive in a car

Now in the above sentence do you think that it is correct? No, because “Enjoy flying by plane” is been compared with “like to drive in a car”. Both the clauses are not structurally compatible. How to make them compatible?
I enjoy flying by plane more than driving by car.

Here is how it is corrected, “flying by plane” is made compatible with “driving by car”