Like

[kiranck007]

Notice that the position of the like phrase can change the meaning slightly, as in LIKE you, I danced last night and I danced LIKE you last night.

GMAT, Manhattan (2012-04-24). Sentence Correction GMAT Strategy Guide, 5th Edition (Manhattan GMAT Strategy Guides) (Kindle Locations 5165-5166). Manhattan Prep. Kindle Edition.

Hi,
In the sentence, " I danced LIKE you last night" don't we intend to mean " I danced LIKE you danced last night" ? If true, aren't we comparing phrases, in which case we should be using "as" instead of "like", right? Also, is "LIKE" modifying danced or I ?

One more questions,

I want to coach divers LIKE Greg Louganis.

GMAT, Manhattan (2012-04-24). Sentence Correction GMAT Strategy Guide, 5th Edition (Manhattan GMAT Strategy Guides) (Kindle Location 5169). Manhattan Prep. Kindle Edition.

In the above sentence, verb is "want" or "to coach" ?

Thanks,
Kiran

[jlucero]

Notice that the position of the like phrase can change the meaning slightly, as in LIKE you, I danced last night and I danced LIKE you last night.

GMAT, Manhattan (2012-04-24). Sentence Correction GMAT Strategy Guide, 5th Edition (Manhattan GMAT Strategy Guides) (Kindle Locations 5165-5166). Manhattan Prep. Kindle Edition.

Hi,
In the sentence, " I danced LIKE you last night" don't we intend to mean " I danced LIKE you danced last night" ? If true, aren't we comparing phrases, in which case we should be using "as" instead of "like", right? Also, is "LIKE" modifying danced or I ?

One more questions,

I want to coach divers LIKE Greg Louganis.

GMAT, Manhattan (2012-04-24). Sentence Correction GMAT Strategy Guide, 5th Edition (Manhattan GMAT Strategy Guides) (Kindle Location 5169). Manhattan Prep. Kindle Edition.

In the above sentence, verb is "want" or "to coach" ?

Thanks,
Kiran

(1) Throw in the word similar to and you can find the difference:

Similar to you, I danced.
I danced similar to you.

In both instances you are comparing I to you. In the first, you're just saying that each of us danced. In the second, you are saying that "I danced in a way that is similar to the way that you dance". Note that this is a subtle but important difference from what you said. If I said I danced like you last night, I could be imitating you without having to be shadowing the way that you danced last night. If I say I danced like a chicken, I don't need to have a chicken next to me while I dance. If you did use "as"- I danced as you did- now you would be comparing the time frame of our dancing. I danced at the same time as you did.

(2) There can be lots of different verbs in a sentence, but the main verb is "want" with the full verb phrase being "want to coach". Note that want can function by itself as a verb, but to coach can not.