Can the word like be a preposition

The word like exhibits several different grammatical properties. It can be used as a preposition, a conjunction, an adjective or an adverb.

Like as a preposition

When used as a preposition, like is followed by a noun.

• She looks like her mother.
• He walks like his dad.

Like as a conjunction

In informal English, like is sometimes used as a conjunction instead of as. This is very common in American English.

• Nobody understands her like I do. (Informal)
• Nobody understands her as I do. (Formal)

Like

If you are like somebody you are similar to him or her.

• She is like her mother.
• It was a small bird like a sparrow. (= The bird was similar to a sparrow.)
• She was like her brother. They were both excellent writers.
• No one can play the piano like he does.

Like can be used with the modifiers just and very.

• My neighbour has bought a new car just like mine.
• He is very like his brother in many ways.

We can use like after the copular verbs seem, look, sound, smell, taste and feel. As is not usually possible in this case.

• She seems like a good candidate for the job. (NOT She seems as a good candidate for the job.)
• He looks like his brother. (NOT He looks as his brother.)

Feel like

Feel can be followed by like or as if / though.

• She felt like she was in a dream. (= She felt as if she was in a dream.)

Feel like can also mean ‘want’ or ‘would like’.

• I feel like singing. (= I want to sing.)

Like new

If something is like new, it looks like it is new.

• They just applied a coat of paint and the house was like new.

In English texts and everyday communication, the word “like” serves a variety of purposes. It can act as an adjective, a preposition, an adverb, a conjunction, a noun, or a verb.

1. Adjective

This word is classified under adjectives if it is used to modify a noun or a pronoun by indicating similarities in qualities or characteristics. For example, in the sentence below:

You’re not talking about like things when you compare football and golf.

The word “like” is used as an adjective that describes the noun “things.”

Definition:

a. having the same or similar qualities

• Example:
• I responded in like manner.

1. Preposition

Another common function of the word “like” is as a preposition that also means “for example” or “similar to.” In the sample sentence below:

Their house is like a barn.

The word “like” is used as a preposition that indicates that the “house” is similar to a “barn.”

Definition:

a. having the same characteristics or qualities as

• Example:
• There were other suits like mine in the shop.

b. used to draw attention to the nature of an action or event

• Example:
• We apologize for coming over unannounced like this.

c. such as; for example

• Example:
• They discussed books like 1984 and Animal Farm.

1. Adverb

The word ”like” can also be categorized as an adverb if it is used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Take for example, the sentence below:

The distance is more like 750 miles.

In this sentence, the word modifies the adjective “750,” and is therefore considered as an adverb.

Definition:

a. nearly; approximately

• Example:
• It was like 8 feet deep.

b. used in speech as a meaningless filler or to signify the speaker’s uncertainty about an expression just used

• Example:
• There was this funny smell—sort of dusty like.

1. Conjunction

There are also some cases wherein the word “like” is used as a conjunction that connects two clauses to form one sentence. For instance, in the sample sentence below:

I hate girls who change boyfriends like they change clothes.

The word “like” serves as a conjunction that links together the clauses “I hate girls who change boyfriends” and “they change clothes.”

Definition:

a. in the same way that; as

• Example:
• They raven down scenery like children do sweetmeats.

b. as though; as if

• Example:
• I felt like I’d been kicked by a horse.

1. Noun

Other times, the word “like” is considered as a noun, which refers to something of the same kind. In the example:

Did you ever hear the like?

The word “like” is used as a noun that is used to indicate a thing of the same kind.

Definition:

a. a thing or things of the same kind

• Example:
• We will never see anyone of her like again.
  

1. Verb

The word “like” is also typically used as a verb that indicates a state of being. Take for example, the sentence:

He likes baseball more than anything.

In this sentence, the word suggests the state of being of the pronoun “he,” and is therefore considered as a verb.

Definition:

a. to enjoy (something); to get pleasure from (something)

• Example:
• I like all Dan Brown’s books.
  

b. wish for; want

• Example:
• Would you like a cup of tea?

Like as a conjunction meaning “as, in the same way as” (Many shoppers study the food ads like brokers study market reports) or “as if” (It looks like it will rain) has been used for nearly 500 years and by many distinguished literary and intellectual figures. Since the mid-19th century there have been objections, often vehement, to these uses. Nevertheless, such uses are almost universal today in all but the most formal speech and writing. In extremely careful speech and in much formal writing, as, as if, and as though are more commonly used than like: The commanding general accepted full responsibility for the incident, as any professional soldier would. Many of the Greenwich Village bohemians lived as if (or as though) there were no tomorrow. Random House, p. 1114.

Other sources fervently disagree with this loose approach. Mr. Fowler himself minced no words:

Every illiterate person uses this construction daily . . . . New Fowler, p. 458.

It would appear that in many kinds of written and spoken English like as a conjunction is struggling towards acceptable standard or neutral ground. It is not there yet. But the distributional patterns suggest that the long-standing resistance to this omnipresent little word is beginning to crumble. New Fowler, p. 459.