Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[ppg77889]

How to use "such as" and "like" and what are they different ?

Thanks in advance.

[pugachevV]

Use "like" for similes only. He acts like a clown.
Such as for everything else. Now and then there's a fool such as I.

However, you will hear like used incorrectly all the time, nowadays.
e.g. (Now and then there's a fool like me).

You will hear it inserted at random in sentences where it means nothing.
e.g. I'm, like, not even, like, interested in him.

Alas.

[Mary W. Ng]

Like is used to introduce a comparative phrase.

"He is tall like his father."

Keep in mind that like is a preposition, and should be followed by an object pronoun.

"Like her, he is a vegetarian."

Such as is used to introduce examples.

"She likes bright colours, such as red and yellow."
_________________
Mary W. Ng
Helping students learn grammar
http:www.aimpublishing.com

[rcornudella]

Sometimes �Such as� and �like� could be used in the same way but we must consider a subtle difference: �Like� suggest comparison whereas �such as� implies inclusion. I think that the word inclusion, here, is the key of the matter.
_________________
Roger