Like Vs. As

by **mridul12** Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:14 am

Q2: Question Bank ( MGMAT )

Teachers in this country have generally been trained either to approach mathematics like a creative activity or that they should force students to memorize rules and principles without truly understanding how to apply them.

A) to approach mathematics like a creative activity or that they should force students to memorize rules and principles

B) to approach mathematics like a creative activity or to force students to memorize rules and principles

C) to approach mathematics as a creative activity or to force students to memorize rules and principles

D) that they should approach mathematics as a creative activity or to force students to memorize rules and principles

E ) that they should approach mathematics like a creative activity or that they should force

Please explain between B and C . I chose B because I looked at Noun " Mathametics" . To compare Noun , we use Like.

MGMAT Tutors,

Would you please explain this and emphasizes the correct usage of Like Vs. As

by **givemeanid** Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:29 am

We are not comparing mathematics. We are comparing 'approach to mathematics' with 'creative activity'. 'As' should be used instead of 'like'.

by **dbernst** Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:43 pm

mridul12, aside from the rule that "like" compares nouns while "as" compares clauses, "like" is used to compare the similarities between things, while "as" is used in comparisons that show equality. For example, the sentence "In the play Dan acted like a clown" means that I exhibited similarities to a clown. However, the sentence "In the play Dan acted as a clown" means that I actually played the part of a clown, makeup and all! In this case, mathematics is a creative activity; thus, "as" is necessary.

Hope that helps!
-dan