LIKE/ AS/ ALIKE: DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

In English, like means 'similar to' and is used when comparing things. In Portuguese, both like and as mean ‘como’. Look at these examples:

'He’s 40 years old, but sometimes behaves like a child'. 

It means that he is not a child, but sometimes behaves similar to a child. 

'Her hands were so cold. There were like ice cubes'. I’m comparing the temperature of her hands to ice cubes.

As means ‘in the condition of’.

I say “I work as a teacher”. Like can not be used here, because I don’t work similar to a teacher. I really am a teacher.

Sometimes, like and as have no difference in meaning, that is, both mean “in the same manner/ way that ”. In fact, they only differ in grammar: 

a) Like is followed by a noun/ pronoun

e.g Do exactly like me.

b) As is followed by a clause (subject +verb)

 e.g 

Do exactly as I say.

She passed the exam, as I expected she would.

Note that In American English, and sometimes in informal British English, like can also be used before a clause.

e.g 

Nobody teaches those children as I do/ like I do.

Alike in English means ‘similar to each other’ ( in Portuguese= igual, parecido, semelhante). It is used after a linking verb such as be, seem, look, predicatively:

e.g 

Nowadays, we can say that all politicians are alike in Brazil. 

Alike also means ‘in the same manner' ( In Portuguese= igualmente) and is used as an adverb.

e.g 

They treat their children alike.