What is a formal word for like

Is there a more formal way of saying:

«In most western countries, such as the United States, an increased level of … has been observed.»

Or should such a sentence be rephrased completely?

cindi's user avatar

cindi

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asked Apr 4, 2011 at 12:03

Tom's user avatar

The phrase «such as» is a formal phrase, and as such, you should feel free to use it in formal writing. (The informal equivalent would be «like»: Places like the US have seen an increase in…)

answered Apr 4, 2011 at 12:33

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JSBձոգչJSBձոգչ

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2

Some alternatives include:

  • for example
  • for instance

There is a subtle difference between ‘such as’ and ‘like’.

Most western countries, such as the US…

Means

Most western countries, with the US being an example…

On the other hand

Most western countries like the US…

Could be interpreted as

Most western countries that are similar to the US

Which may not be what you mean.

answered Apr 4, 2011 at 13:10

Dancrumb's user avatar

DancrumbDancrumb

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2

I don’t know about formality, but if you want to capitalise on the residual popularity of Miss Teen USA 2007 then you could do worse than follow the wonderful precedent set by Miss South Carolina, who responded to the question

“Recent polls have shown that a fifth of Americans can’t locate the US on a world map. Why do you think this is?”

with (emphasis added)…

I personally believe, that U.S. Americans,
are unable to do so,
because uh,
some, people out there, in our nation don’t have maps.
and uh…
I believe that our education like such as in South Africa,
and the Iraq,
everywhere like such as
and, I believe they should uh,
our education over here,
in the U.S. should help the U.S.
or should help South Africa,
and should help the Iraq and Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future,
for our [children].”

0

On the «rephrase completely» note, I would consider taking the center clause out:

In most western countries, an
increased level of … has been
observed

The U.S. is now pretty much the archetype western country, so you’re not providing additional information. If you want to emphasize the U.S. is included, then you could use:

In most western countries, including
the United States, an increased level
of … has been observed

answered Apr 4, 2011 at 18:49

Matthew Flaschen's user avatar

In formal writing, like is used as a preposition, telling where, when or how the noun in the sentence is doing whatever it may be doing. As is used as a conjunction, joining two clauses.

Simply so What’s another way to say I like you? Cute Ways to say I LOVE YOU!

  • I’m crazy about you.
  • I’m in love with you.
  • I’ve got feelings for you.
  • I care about you.
  • I’ve fallen for you.
  • I adore you.
  • You turn me on.
  • I’m head over heels for you.

Is like a verb or a noun? In English, the word like has a very flexible range of uses, ranging from conventional to non-standard. It can be used as a noun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, particle, conjunction, hedge, filler, and quotative.

also How can I replace I like? How to say “I like it and “I don’t like it” in different ways in English

  1. I enjoy it.
  2. I love it.
  3. I am passionate about it.
  4. I am fond of it.
  5. I am a fan of it.
  6. I am interested in it.
  7. I am into it.

How do you use like?

We use like to talk about things or people which we enjoy or feel positive about:

  1. like + noun phrase. I like Sarah but I don’t like her brother much. …
  2. like + -ing. I like swimming before breakfast. …
  3. like + to-infinitive. She likes to go and see her parents at the weekend. …
  4. like + wh-clause. I don’t like what he did.

What is the meaning of 143? 143 is code for I love you, especially used on pagers back in the 1990s.

How do you express love in text?

Expressing Deep Love in Words

  1. I cherish you.
  2. I want a lifetime with you.
  3. I adore you.
  4. I am better because of you.
  5. I need you by my side.
  6. I cannot stop thinking about you.
  7. My love for you is unconditional and eternal.
  8. All of the good in my life is because of you.

What is another word for like or love? What is another word for love?

affection adoration
devotion like
attachment friendship
intimacy respect
amity amour

What is like in grammar?

“Like” is a preposition that means “similar to”. A preposition is a word that positions nouns in relation to one another, i.e. the when, where, and how regarding the noun’s role in a sentence: in the house, at home, like him etc. “As” is a conjunction.

What type of adjective is like? The word “like” is used as an adjective that describes the noun “things.” Example: I responded in like manner.

What is the adjective form of like?

Likeable; pleasing; pleasant; agreeable.

What are 5 synonyms for like? like

  • adore,
  • delight (in),
  • dig,
  • enjoy,
  • fancy,
  • groove (on),
  • love,
  • relish,

What is a corresponding?

Definition of corresponding

1a : having or participating in the same relationship (such as kind, degree, position, correspondence, or function) especially with regard to the same or like wholes (such as geometric figures or sets) corresponding parts of similar triangles.

How do you break the habit of saying like?

How to: Stop Saying “Like” and Immediately Sound Smarter

  1. Learn how to use “like” correctly. …
  2. Pause when you would say “like.” …
  3. Ask others to help you. …
  4. Record yourself. …
  5. Replace “like” with another word. …
  6. Know the most common ways “like” is misused. …
  7. Learn new words. …
  8. Challenge yourself.

What is like as? Definition of like as

chiefly dialectal. : in the way or manner that : as like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them — Psalms 103:13 (Authorized Version) an eddy there … like as you’d expect— C. S. Forester —now usually used with if it was … like as if the films suddenly come real— Richard …

Which uses like or as? A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things in an interesting way using the word “like” or “as.” The purpose of a simile is to spark an interesting connection in a reader’s or listener’s mind.

What does 1234 mean?

1234 can signal that it’s time to simplify your life and make way for a new chapter to begin. This is a sign from your guardian angels that you’ve been holding onto things of your past, things that no longer serve or uplift you.

What does 153 mean? 153 means “I Adore You.” Other forms of abbreviating “I Adore You” include IAY and IAU. The practice of replacing letters or words with numbers is quite common when making declarations of love or deep affection, e.g., 143 (“I Love You”) and 14344 (“I Love You Very Much”).

What does 140 mean?

Definitions of 140. adjective. being ten more than one hundred thirty. synonyms: cxl, one hundred forty cardinal. being or denoting a numerical quantity but not order.

What make a girl fall for you? How To Make a Girl Fall For You: 20 Simple Strategies

  1. Work on yourself & have your own life. …
  2. Be optimistic. …
  3. Keep the conversation going. …
  4. Respect her as an equal. …
  5. Be her friend and make it fun. …
  6. Be anything but clingy. …
  7. Take it slow – things will fall in place. …
  8. Don’t make yourself too available.

What is the code for I love You?

2. 143: I Love You.

How do I wish my boyfriend good night? Sweet good night quotes for him

Wishing a Good night, to the guy who makes my days bright.” “I know it’s not true, but my heart still believes that the moon shines for just me and U. Good night.” “Sweet dreams, to the guy whose love makes me burst out at the seams.”

  1. In formal writing, like is used as a preposition, telling where, when or how the noun in the sentence is doing whatever it may be doing.
  2. As is used as a conjunction, joining two clauses.
  3. Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing always looks great?

subsequently, What is the most important word? The 100 Most Important Words in English

  • Amount.
  • Argument.
  • Art.
  • Be.
  • Beautiful.
  • Belief.
  • Cause.
  • Certain.

What should I reply instead of OK?

  • all right,
  • alright,
  • aye.
  • (also ay),
  • exactly,
  • okeydoke.
  • (or okeydokey),
  • yea,

How do you say no in a smart way?

Here are 17 smart ways to say no when you need to.

  1. No.: The simple way. …
  2. I don’t do that. …
  3. I’ve got to go with my intuition and say no. …
  4. I wouldn’t be comfortable with that. …
  5. That doesn’t fit in with our current program. …
  6. My team/boss/family would kill me if I did that. …
  7. I can’t afford it/It’s not in the budget.

How do you say ily without saying it? How do I say “I love you” without saying it in a text?

  1. “Smiling so much today just thinking of you”
  2. “Just wanted to thank you for being you :)”
  3. “I hope you know how much you mean to me”
  4. “I’m so glad you’re in my life!”
  5. “You are so amazing!”
  6. “You mean so much to me”
  7. Send a sweet GIF.
  8. Send a romantic song.

What is the longest word in English?

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is the longest word entered in the most trusted English dictionaries.

What is the most used English word?

The most commonly-used word in English might only have three letters – but it packs a punch. ‘The’. It’s omnipresent; we can’t imagine English without it.

What is the most popular letter?

The top ten most common letters in the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, and the percentage of words they appear in, are:

  • E – 11.1607%
  • A – 8.4966%
  • R – 7.5809%
  • I – 7.5448%
  • O – 7.1635%
  • T – 6.9509%
  • N – 6.6544%
  • S – 5.7351%

Is OK or okay more formal?

There’s no difference between OK and okay. The older term, OK, (possibly) derived from an abbreviation for an intentional misspelling of “all correct.” The terms are both standard English. For extremely formal writing, always consult the relevant style guide. If you don’t have one, you may decide to use a synonym.

How do you talk in a formal way?

Follow these tips and you should make the right impression when you talk to people.

  1. Listen and be understanding. …
  2. Avoid negative words – instead use positive words in a negative form. …
  3. Say the magic word: Sorry. …
  4. Use little words to soften your statements. …
  5. Avoid ‘finger pointing’ statements with the word ‘you’

Is OK rude?

More words in general sound more polite Gretchen McCulloch, an internet linguist and author of the upcoming book Because Internet, said OK is not inherently rude but the length of a reply matters. “Anything that’s shorter can sound curter, anything that’s longer can sound more polite,” McCulloch said.

What does okay OK and K mean?

In fact, it was a part of the teenage slang-lingo almost a decade ago. It was cool to write ‘okay’ this way and the whole trend was that the shorter the words, the cooler you are. But now, if someone sends you a single ‘K’ as a response it could mean some trouble.

What dies OK stand for?

On March 23, 1839, the initials “O.K.” are first published in The Boston Morning Post. Meant as an abbreviation for “oll korrect,” a popular slang misspelling of “all correct” at the time, OK steadily made its way into the everyday speech of Americans.

How do you politely say no?

How to say no in any situation – 20 phrases

  1. I appreciate the offer/invite, but I can’t commit.
  2. I’m honored by the offer/invites, but can’t.
  3. I’m flattered you considered me, but unfortunately I’ll have to pass this time.
  4. I appreciate the offer/invite, but I am completely booked.
  5. Thank you for thinking of me, but I can’t.

What is polite word?

affable, amiable, attentive, civil, conciliatory, considerate, cordial, courteous, courtly, deferential, diplomatic, friendly, genteel, gentle, good-natured, gracious, neighborly, pleasant, respectful, sociable.

How do you say hi to a girl on chat?

Ways to Just Say Hi:

  1. Hi, how was your weekend?
  2. Hey, how’s your week going so far?
  3. Hi. What have you been up to lately?
  4. Hey, how are things with you today?
  5. Hi, any fun plans for the weekend?
  6. Hi, I hope your week is going well.
  7. Hi, how are you?
  8. Hi there. How’s life treating you today?

Is Gonna slang?

They are not exactly slang, but they are a little like slang. For example, “gonna” is a short form of “going to”. If you say going to very fast, without carefully pronouncing each word, it can sound like gonna. Please remember that these are informal contractions.

How do you formally talk?

Follow these tips and you should make the right impression when you talk to people.

  1. Listen and be understanding. …
  2. Avoid negative words – instead use positive words in a negative form. …
  3. Say the magic word: Sorry. …
  4. Use little words to soften your statements. …
  5. Avoid ‘finger pointing’ statements with the word ‘you’

Is YEET a word?

Yeet is a slang word that functions broadly with the meaning “to throw,” but is especially used to emphasize forcefulness and a lack of concern for the thing being thrown. (You don’t yeet something if you’re worried that it might break.)

Is all Y all proper English?

The only right way to spell the contraction of “you” and “all” is “y’all.” “Ya’ll” is incorrect and a misspelling of the word, so don’t use it. When you think about it, though, “y’all” makes the most sense for how this contraction should be correctly spelled.

What does Lemme mean in text?

short form of “let me”: “Lemme guess,” he said.

Is English a formal language?

Formal language is characterized by the use of standard English, more complex sentence structures, infrequent use of personal pronouns, and lack of colloquial or slang terms.

How can I be more formal?

Formal Writing Voice

  1. Do not use first-person pronouns (“I,” “me,” “my,” “we,” “us,” etc.). …
  2. Avoid addressing readers as “you.” …
  3. Avoid the use of contractions. …
  4. Avoid colloquialism and slang expressions. …
  5. Avoid nonstandard diction. …
  6. Avoid abbreviated versions of words. …
  7. Avoid the overuse of short and simple sentences.

How do I stop being formal?

So here’s 5 tips you can start with:

  1. Shake hands: it’s 70% formal. Use it with your coworkers and family relatives but don’t use it with your friends! …
  2. Foulness: feel comfortable to say whatever you like to say with your friends. …
  3. You’re not a robot: allow yourself to make mistakes.

How do you say very professional?

more professional

  1. competent.
  2. efficient.
  3. experienced.
  4. licensed.
  5. qualified.
  6. skillful.
  7. ace.
  8. expert.

How do you say something in a professional way?

These 15 phrases can help establish you as a positive force in any office environment.

  1. “Let’s touch base.”
  2. “Our state-of-the-art technology.”
  3. “I appreciate your attention to this matter”
  4. “Should you have questions, please feel free to contact me”
  5. “I look forward to hearing from you soon.”

Is Progressional a word?

Adjective. Of or pertaining to progression; tending to, or capable of, progress.

Is unprofessional correct?

not professional; not pertaining to or characteristic of a profession. at variance with or contrary to professional standards or ethics; not befitting members of a profession, as language, behavior, or conduct. not belonging to a profession; nonprofessional.

How do I act like a professional?

How to be a professional

  1. Keep time. Keep track of your time to ensure you finish your work by the deadline and respect everyone else’s schedule. …
  2. Follow the dress code. …
  3. Maintain focus. …
  4. Demonstrate a positive attitude. …
  5. Be mindful. …
  6. Be confident. …
  7. Demonstrate good communication skills. …
  8. Show your organization skills.

What are advanced words?

Advanced English Vocabulary Words with Meanings

Words Definition
Venality Susceptibility to bribes/corruption
Betray to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally
Censure to express strong disapproval
Wanting lacking

How do you professionally say no?

Examples of ways to say “no”

  1. “Unfortunately, I have too much to do today. …
  2. “That sounds fun, but I have a lot going on at home.”
  3. “I’m not comfortable doing that task. …
  4. “Now isn’t a good time for me. …
  5. “Sorry, I have already committed to something else.

How do you say fancy way?

anew

  1. afresh.
  2. de novo.
  3. from scratch.
  4. from the beginning.
  5. in a different way.
  6. in a new way.
  7. lately.
  8. new.


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If you have studied English, you probably know what the word «like» means, but if you haven’t lived in the United States, you may be unfamiliar with the some of the more informal uses of the term. Here’s what you’ll need to know in order to understand native English speakers…

If you have studied English, you probably know what the word like means, but if you try to speak like an American and you haven’t lived in the United States, you may be unfamiliar with the some of the more informal uses of the term. Even though you may hesitate to use like in these less formal ways, they have become so common in day-to-day conversation that you’ll have a difficult time understanding native English speakers outside of your academic or professional life if you haven’t at least studied them. Included below are examples of the informal uses of like to help you speak like an American.

Formal Uses

To describe preferences

If you know enough English to read this article, you should be familiar with the word like as a verb used to describe preferences.

  • I like learning English on italki.
  • I like hamburgers more than hot dogs.

For comparisons

Like can also be used to compare two things.

  • That man looks like Tom Cruise.
  • One of these things is not like the other.              

Close in meaning to “such as”

Like can also be used to replace such as.

  • Technologies like smart phones and tablets are changing business.
  • Technologies such as smart phones and tablets are changing business.

Like in this example has about the same meaning as such as. The technologies the speaker has in mind that are changing business may include smart phones and tablets, but the speaker may also simply be referring to similar technologies. In the such as sentence, the technologies that the speaker thinks are changing business definitely include smart phones and tablets.

Close in meaning to “as if”

Like replaces as if to link two clauses together.

  • They spend money like they they’ve just won the lottery.
  • They spend money as if they’ve just won the lottery.

Note: The two previous usages are seen by some as informal, but they are so common that the average English speaker is not even aware of a difference.

Informal Uses

The informal uses of like will help you speak like an American.

To stop and think

Like can be used in the same way as the words um, uh, and well. It lets you pause in the middle of a sentence to figure out what else you want to say.

  • Person A: Are you coming with us on Friday?
  • Person B: I… like…don’t know yet because I might have to stay late at the office.

Giving an estimate, making an exaggeration

Like can be used to tell the listener that what you are about to say is approximate or that you are about to exaggerate.

  • Why are you still studying? We have like five minutes until the exam.

Here, it is likely that five minutes is only an approximation of the time remaining before the exam. The implication is that the speaker thinks it is a waste of time to study because there is such a short amount of time left.

  • Person A: Can you believe Sarah has a new boyfriend?
  • Person B: Yeah, she’s dated like thirty guys this year.

The truth may be that Sarah has only dated five guys this year. Thirty is an exaggeration.

Describing what you or someone else said or thought

Like may be used to describe what someone was saying at an earlier point in time.

In this case the word said is replaced by a form of the verb to be before the word like.

  • They wanted me to drive all of them, and I said, “No way. My old car might actually fall apart if we go that far.”
  • They wanted me to drive all of them, and I’m like, “No way. My old car might actually fall apart if we go that far.”

The first sentence above can only have one meaning, that the words were said just as they appear in quotation marks. The second sentence could have this same meaning, or it could represent a rewording of what the speaker actually said.

Like is often used to describe something you were thinking but did not say aloud.

  • Person A: How was work?
  • Person B: My boss said he wants me to finish the project by Friday, and I’m like, “is this guy crazy?”

In this conversation, Person B is describing to Person A what he was thinking; he did not actually say the words, “is this guy crazy?” to his boss.

Sometimes it’s difficult to determine which use (a quotation or a thought) is intended by the speaker.

  • Person A: How was work?
  • Person B: My boss said he wants me to finish the project by Friday, and I’m like, “are you crazy?”

In this case, Person B could either be describing what he was thinking or what he actually said out loud. The listener may have to ask for clarification. For example, “Did you actually say that to your boss?”

Emotional expression

Like, when used to indicate what someone was saying or thinking, is very useful for conversations where the speaker is expressing strong attitudes. Body language, facial expressions or non-verbal vocalizations that convey emotion can completely replace the words after the “be + like” construction to indicate how the speaker felt.

  • He was like, “don’t you know what you’re doing?” and I was like [shrugs shoulders].
  • He was like, “the repair won’t be cheap”, and I was like, [irritated sigh].

When to use informal like

Be aware that because of the extreme informality, these uses of like are often viewed negatively or are thought to be grammatically incorrect. Their acceptability varies with the age of the speaker and the context.

It may feel and sound awkward to use like in informal conversation until you have studied English for a while, and have spent a good amount of time talking with native speakers. A good rule to follow is that if you have to make a conscious effort to put a word or expression into a sentence, don’t use it.  When you have enough exposure to informal English that you use it without thinking, you will sound more like American English is your first language.

Hero Image (Like) by Luca Sartoni (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The phrase “such as” is a formal phrase, and as such, you should feel free to use it in formal writing. (The informal equivalent would be “like”: Places like the US have seen an increase in…) Some alternatives include: for example.

What is another way to say like?

What is another word for like?

enjoy love
adore appreciate
fancy relish
savorUS be fond of
embrace admire

Is like an informal word?

In informal contexts, we can use like as a conjunction instead of as. Traditional grammar books consider this use of like incorrect: Like any good cook book will tell you, don’t let the milk boil.

Is suchlike formal?

You will often see rather formal words in notices and suchlike. Make sure you know the meaning of the words used so that you could tell someone what the notice says using less formal words. 2. Make this conversation more informal by changing some of the words.

How do you know if writing is informal?

Informal Writing Style Colloquial – Informal writing is similar to a spoken conversation. Informal writing may include slang, figures of speech, broken syntax, asides and so on. Informal writing takes a personal tone as if you were speaking directly to your audience (the reader).

Is math a formal word?

Both math and maths are informal, where maths is considered to be a British informal usage. Because, to use only formal expression is a basis requirement of a college admission essay, and I think mathematics is probably the unique formal expression.

What’s another word for math problem?

What is another word for mathematics?

addition algebra
arithmetical problem multiplying
dividing subtracting
infinitesimal calculus dental calculus
gageUS guess

What is another word for same in math?

Multiplication-product, multiply, multiplied by, times. Division-quotient, dividend, divide, divided by, each, per, average, divided equally. Equal-the same, equals, the same as, equivalent, is equal to.

What are the math words?

The Basic Operations

Symbol Words Used
+ Addition, Add, Sum, Plus, Increase, Total
Subtraction, Subtract, Minus, Less, Difference, Decrease, Take Away, Deduct
× Multiplication, Multiply, Product, By, Times, Lots Of
÷ Division, Divide, Quotient, Goes Into, How Many Times

What is another word for median in math?

Some common synonyms of median are average, mean, and norm. While all these words mean “something that represents a middle point,” median applies to the value that represents the point at which there are as many instances above as there are below.

What is another word for fairly?

Fairly Synonyms – WordHippo Thesaurus….What is another word for fairly?

moderately quite
rather reasonably
somewhat passably
tolerably adequately
pretty relatively

Last Updated: November 18, 2021 | Author: Dana-Henry

What is a stronger word than like?

Fond can be considered as more than like and less than love. ( Used as be fond of) Having a strong liking, inclination, or affection: fond of ballet; fond of my nieces and nephews.

Is like a formal word?

In formal writing, like is used as a preposition, telling where, when or how the noun in the sentence is doing whatever it may be doing. As is used as a conjunction, joining two clauses.

How do you say you really like something?

The simplest and most common expressions are I like and I don’t like.

7 Ways to Say You Like Something in English

  1. I enjoy it. This verb means to “take delight or pleasure in” something. …
  2. I love it. …
  3. I am passionate about it. …
  4. I am fond of it. …
  5. I am a fan of it. …
  6. I am interested in it. …
  7. I am into it.

What is another word for love?

affection adoration
devotion like
attachment friendship
intimacy respect
amity amour

What is the best synonym for liked?

liked

  • admired.
  • cherished.
  • honored.
  • loved.
  • prized.
  • respected.
  • beloved.

What do you call something that you like?

enjoyment. noun. something that you enjoy doing.

What does I like you mean?

Indicates that the speaker likes the interlocutor.

Does like mean love?

Love is an unconditional emotion, while like is a more watered-down version of love. … Loving someone means that he or she means everything to you, while liking someone means that you are simply happy being with that person.

What does it mean if a girl says I like you?

When she says I like you, it means that she wants to go on dates with you. She wants to do things with you. She wants to try new things with you. She wants to see the things she knows and loves through your eyes because it tells her so much about you.

What do you do if a boy says he likes you?

Short-Term Strategies

  1. Say Thank You. Regardless of whether you return the sentiment, acknowledge the person has just paid you a compliment. …
  2. Go With Your Gut. You will have an initial reaction to hearing someone likes you. …
  3. Notification by Text. …
  4. Choose A, B, or C. …
  5. Be Honest. …
  6. Consideration and Time.

Why do we like someone so much?

Love is connected with several hormones that make us feel warm and fuzzy. Dopamine is the reward hormone that is released when we do something that makes you feel good, such as spending time with loved ones and having relationship. … Attraction is also associated with higher levels of serotonin, the happy hormone.

like в английском языкеСлово like — это не только «лайк» в социальных сетях. Сегодня мы рассмотрим шесть способов употребления like в самых обыкновенных разговорных ситуациях.

Простейшее значение like — это «испытывать симпатию» к чему-то, «любить», «нравится».

I like ice-cream. — Мне нравится мороженое.

I don’t like horror movies. — Мне не нравятся фильмы ужасов.

2. Like в сравнениях

Like используется в роли предлога «как» при сравнении:

You speak like your father. — Ты говоришь, как твой отец.

It smells like coffee. (Это) пахнет, как кофе.

Также like используется в значении «как если бы», «как будто». Более формальный вариант — as if:

He is speaking so fast like/as if he’s just drunk ten cups of coffee. — Он говорит так быстро, как будто он только что выпил десять чашек кофе.

She asked me the question smiling like/as if she knew the right answer. — Она задала мне вопрос, улыбаясь, как если бы знала правильный ответ.

Не совсем сравнение, но like еще используется как «такие, как». Более формальный вариант — such as:

Some languages, like/such as Spanish and Portuguese, are quite similar. — Некоторые языки, такие как испанский и португальский, довольно похожи.

Some birds, like/such as sparrows, can live in colder climates. — Некоторые птицы, такие как воробьи, могут жить в более холодном климате.

Следующие случаи использования like относятся к неформальной речи.

3. Like как вводное слово

Об этой функции like я узнал от преподавателя из Калифорнии, который рассказывал, что в его родном Лос-Анджелесе у подростков есть ужасная привычка вставлять like через слово, при этом like никак не влияет на смысл речи. Это просто filler word, слово, заполняющее паузы, как well или um. Похоже на «как бы» в русском языке.

She… like… didn’t tell me where she was going. — Она как бы не сказала мне, куда пошла.

I have… like… let me see, well… only two dollars. — У меня есть как бы… дай-ка посмотрю, нуу… всего два доллара.

В самом факте употребления filler words в речи ничего преступного нет, они существуют не просто так, подробнее об этом вы можете прочитать в этой статье. Однако чрезмерное употребление вводного слова like превращает его в слово-паразит, уродующее речь и затрудняющее понимание.

4. Like как «примерно»

Like может значить «примерно», «приблизительно», «где-то» (в значении «примерно»). Это менее формальный синоним about и approximately.

Hurry up, we only have like ten minutes. — Торопись, у нас всего где-то минут десять.

He was like five feet tall. — Он был ростом где-то футов пять.

Со словом about эти предложения будут звучать чуть более формально:

We have about ten minutes. — У нас есть около десяти минут.

Со словом approximately — чуть ли не научно:

We have approximately ten minutes. — У нас есть приблизительно десять минут.

5. To be like для передачи речи: «а он такой, а она такая»

В русском языке мы часто используем в повседневном общении оборот с «кто-то + такой» для передачи речи, своих или чужих слов, например:

Я опоздал на работу, а мой начальник такой: «Ну, это уже перебор!»

Ну и вот, приносит она мне чай, а я такой: «Я же заказывал кофе, а не чай».

Речь, причем, часто передается недословно, преувеличенно (особенно, чужая). В английском языке оборот to be like используется для точно такой же передачи речи, когда вы рассказываете какой-нибудь случай из жизни:

So, I’m late for work and my boss is like, «Oh, that’s too much!» — Так вот, я опоздал на работу, и мой начальник такой: «Ну, это уже перебор!»

Well, she brings me a tea and I’m like, «But I ordered coffee, not tea». — Ну и вот, приносит она мне чай, а я такой: «Я же заказывал кофе, а не чай».

Как и в русском языке, этот оборот может передавать не слова, а мысли — это понятно из контекста.

My mom told me I was grounded, I was like, «Is she serious?» — Мама сказала, что я наказан, а я такой, это она всерьез?

They made me an employee of the month and I was like, «Finally». — Они сделали меня работником месяца, а я такой, ну наконец-то.

Примечание: to ground — наказать ребенка, запретив на какое-то время гулять, дословно «заземлить».

6. To feel like — «как будто», «хотеть»

Оборот to feel like используется двумя разными способами.

1. To feel like + герундий = хочется

С этим оборотом я познакомился, читая «The Catcher in The Rye», там он встречается часто, начиная с первого предложения:

…but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. — Но, по правде говоря, мне неохота в этом копаться.

Оборот значит «хотеть», «хотелось бы», «не прочь бы», «быть в настроении делать что-то». Он характерен для разговорной речи и нисколько не устарел, активно используется в современном английском языке.

Другие примеры:

I don’t feel like watching a movie. — Мне не хочется смотреть фильм.

I feel like singing. — Мне хочется попеть.

What do you feel like doing now? — Чем бы тебе хотелось сейчас заняться?

Важно: после to feel like обязательно используется герундий (watching, singing), а не инфинитив (to watch, to sing).

2. To feel like + придаточное предложение

В разговорной речи часто используются сложные предложения, начинающиеся на «I felt like…» — «У меня было ощущение, что», «Мне казалось, что». Придаточные в примерах подчеркнуты:

I felt like I was going to die. — Мне казалось, что я умру.

I felt like I was the happiest man in the world! — Мне казалось, что я самый счастливый человек в мире!

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“Like” is one of the most commonly used words in English – and when you’re new to learning the language, it can be a bit of a confusing one, as it has so many different meanings!

In fact – did you know that there are actually five different ways to use the word “like”? Phew! Sounds like hard work.

You might hear it a lot in everyday spoken English – especially as it has become very popular to use colloquially. But if you’re not sure on how to use this word correctly, then read on to find out.

Like – to enjoy

One of the most common ways that you’ll hear the word “like” is as a verb – “to like”.

This is a verb used to express the fact that you enjoy something, and it can be used just like many other verbs in English.

For example: “I like walking to work, but she liked to drive instead.”

Nice and simple!

Would like – to request something

“Like” can also be used as an alternative to the verb, “to want”, in a form that is considered less aggressive and demanding, and more polite. You would use the word with the modal verb, “would”, and you always need to use the full phrase “would like”.

For example: “She would like to place her order now.”

Be like – to describe the characteristics of something

This is when the uses of “like” start to get a bit more complex. In this use, the word is used to describe the personality, character or particular traits of something.

In this case it is used with the verb “to be”. If you are using it in the past tense, only the main part of the verb “to be” is changed, and the word “like” stays the same.

For example: “What was he really like?”

Like – as a simile

Developing from the previous use of the word, “like” is often used as a simile – or a comparison with something else, in order to describe something.

Sounds confusing? Let’s take a look at an example!

“The bedroom was like a disaster zone.”

In a simile, you still need to use the verb “to be” with the word “like”, but instead of describing the actual characteristics, you can use something else – which might be drastically different.

For example: “She was nervous and shaky, like a mouse.”

This is a great way of adding a bit more personality into your spoken English, but you would not use similes very often in written English, unless you are writing creatively.

Look like – describing appearances

The last common use of the word “like” is to describe experiences. This is done through the verb “to look like”. You can use this just as in the previous examples when you used the form “to be like”. In this case, the part of the phrase that changes according to tense and subject is “look”, while the word “like” stays the same.

For example: “I look like a really messy person, while she looks like a celebrity!”

Your turn

Understanding how the word “like” is used in different contexts and forms is a really helpful way to build on your English skills – make sure you practice each of the five uses as much as you can!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In English, the word like has a very flexible range of uses, ranging from conventional to non-standard. It can be used as a noun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, particle, conjunction, hedge, filler, quotative, semi-suffix.

Uses[edit]

Comparisons[edit]

Like is one of the words in the English language that can introduce a simile (a stylistic device comparing two dissimilar ideas). It can be used as a preposition, as in «He runs like a cheetah»; it can also be used as a suffix, as in «She acts very child-like«. It can also be used in non-simile comparisons such as, «She has a dog like ours».[1]

As a conjunction[edit]

Like is often used in place of the subordinating conjunction as, or as if.[2] Examples:

  • They look like they have been having fun.
  • They look as if they have been having fun.

Many people became aware of the two options in 1954, when a famous ad campaign for Winston cigarettes introduced the slogan «Winston tastes good—like a cigarette should.» The slogan was criticized for its usage by prescriptivists, the «as» construction being considered more proper. Winston countered with another ad, featuring a woman with greying hair in a bun who insists that ought to be «Winston tastes good as a cigarette should» and is shouted down by happy cigarette smokers asking «What do you want—good grammar or good taste?»

The appropriateness of its usage as a conjunction is still disputed, however. In some circles, it is considered a faux pas to use like instead of as or as if, whereas in other circles as sounds stilted.

As a noun[edit]

Like can be used as a noun meaning «preference» or «kind». Examples:

  • She had many likes and dislikes.
  • We’ll never see the like again.

When used specifically on social media, it can refer to interactions with content posted by a user, commonly referred to as «likes» on websites such as Twitter or Instagram.

  • That picture you posted got a lot of likes!

As a verb[edit]

As a verb, like generally refers to a fondness for something or someone.[1]

  • I like riding my bicycle.

Like can be used to express a feeling of attraction between two people that is weaker than love. It does not necessarily imply a romantic attraction.[3][4] Example:

  • Marc likes Denise.
  • I’ve taken a liking to our new neighbors.

Like can also be used to indicate a wish for something in a polite manner.[1] Example:

  • Would you like a cup of coffee?

As a colloquial adverb[edit]

In some regional dialects of English, like may be used as an adverbial colloquialism in the construction be + like + to infinitive, meaning «be likely to, be ready to, be on the verge of.» Examples:

  • He was like to go back next time.
  • He was like to go mad.

As the following attest, this construction has a long history in the English language.

  • But Clarence had slumped to his knees before I had half-finished, and he was like to go out of his mind with fright. (Mark Twain, 1669, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court)
  • He saw he was like to leave such an heir. (Cotton Mather, 1853, Magnalia Christi Americana)
  • He was like to lose his life in the one [battle] and his liberty in the other [capture], but there was none of his money at stake in either. (Charles MacFarlane and Thomas Napier Thomson, 1792, Comprehensive History of England)
  • He was in some fear that if he could not bring about the King’s desires, he was like to lose his favor. (Gilbert Burnet, 1679, History of the Reformation of the Church of England)

As a colloquial quotative[edit]

Like is sometimes used colloquially as a quotative to introduce a quotation or impersonation. This is also known as «quotation through simile». The word is often used to express that what follows is not an exact quotation but instead gives a general feel for what was said. In this usage, like functions in conjunction with a verb, generally be (but also say, think, etc.), as in the following examples:[5]

  • He was like, «I’ll be there in five minutes.»
  • She was like, «You need to leave the room right now!»

Like can also be used to paraphrase an implicitly unspoken idea or sentiment:

  • I was like, «Who do they think they are?»

The marking of past tense is often omitted (compare historical present):

  • They told me all sorts of terrible things, and I’m like «Forget it then.»[6]

It is also sometimes used to introduce non-verbal mimetic performances, e.g., facial expressions, hand gestures, body movement, as well as sounds and noises:[7]

  • I was like [speaker rolls eyes].
  • The car was like, «vroom!»

The use of like as a quotative is known to have been around since at least the 1980s.[8]

As a discourse particle, filler or hedge[edit]

History[edit]

The word like has developed several non-traditional uses in informal speech. Especially since the late 20th century onward, it has appeared, in addition to its traditional uses, as a colloquialism across all dialects of spoken English, serving as a discourse particle, filler, hedge, speech disfluency, or other metalinguistic unit.[9] Although these particular colloquial uses of like appear to have become widespread rather recently, its use as a filler is a fairly old regional practice in Welsh English and in Scotland, it was used similarly at least as early as the 19th century. It is traditionally, though not quite every time, used to finish a sentence in the Northern English dialect Geordie.[10] It may also be used in a systemic format to allow individuals to introduce what they say, how they say and think.[11]

Despite such prevalence in modern-day spoken English, these colloquial usages of like rarely appear in writing (unless the writer is deliberately trying to replicate colloquial dialogue) and they have long been stigmatized in formal speech or in high cultural or high social settings. Furthermore, this use of like seems to appear most commonly, in particular, among natively English-speaking children and adolescents, while less so, or not at all, among middle-aged or elderly adults. One suggested explanation for this phenomenon is the argument that younger English speakers are still developing their linguistic competence, and, metalinguistically wishing to express ideas without sounding too confident, certain, or assertive, use like to fulfill this purpose.[9]

In pop culture, such colloquial applications of like (especially in verbal excess) are commonly and often comedically associated with Valley girls, as made famous through the song «Valley Girl» by Frank Zappa, released in 1982, and the film of the same name, released in the following year. The stereotyped «valley girl» language is an exaggeration of the variants of California English spoken by younger generations.

This non-traditional usage of the word has been around at least since the 1950s, introduced through beat (or beatnik) and jazz culture. The beatnik character Maynard G. Krebs (Bob Denver) in the popular Dobie Gillis TV series of 1959-1963 brought the expression to prominence; this was reinforced in later decades by the character of Shaggy on Scooby-Doo (who was based on Krebs).

Very early use of this locution[citation needed] can be seen in a New Yorker cartoon of 15 September 1928, in which two young ladies are discussing a man’s workplace: «What’s he got – an awfice?» «No, he’s got like a loft.»

It is also used in the 1962 novel A Clockwork Orange by the narrator as part of his teenage slang and in the Top Cat cartoon series from 1961 to 1962 by the jazz beatnik type characters.

A common eye dialect spelling is lyk.

Examples[edit]

Like can be used in much the same way as «um…» or «er…» as a discourse particle. It has become common especially among North American teenagers to use the word «like» in this way, as in Valspeak. For example:

  • I, like, don’t know what to do.

It is also becoming more often used (East Coast Scottish English, Northern England English, Hiberno-English and Welsh English in particular) at the end of a sentence, as an alternative to you know. This usage is sometimes considered to be a colloquial interjection and it implies a desire to remain calm and defuse tension:

  • I didn’t say anything, like.
  • Just be cool, like.

Use of like as a filler has a long history in Scots English, as in Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novel Kidnapped:

«What’ll like be your business, mannie?»
«What’s like wrong with him?» said she at last.

Like can be used as hedge to indicate that the following phrase will be an approximation or exaggeration, or that the following words may not be quite right, but are close enough. It may indicate that the phrase in which it appears is to be taken metaphorically or as a hyperbole. This use of like is sometimes regarded as adverbial, as like is often synonymous here with adverbial phrases of approximation, such as «almost» or «more or less». Examples:

  • I have, like, no money left.
  • The restaurant is only, like, five miles from here.
  • I, like, almost died!

Conversely, like may also be used to indicate a counterexpectation to the speaker, or to indicate certainty regarding the following phrase.[5] Examples:

  • There was, like, a living kitten in the box!
  • This is, like, the only way to solve the problem.
  • I, like, know what I’m doing, okay?

In the UK reality television series Love Island the word ‘like’ has been used an average of 300 times per episode, much to the annoyance of viewers.[12]

See also[edit]

  • Like button

Bibliography[edit]

  • Andersen, Gisle. (1998). The pragmatic marker like from a relevance-theoretic perspective. In A. H. Jucker & Y. Ziv (Eds.) Discourse markers: Descriptions and Theory (pp. 147–70). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  • Andersen, Gisle. (2000). The role of the pragmatic marker like in utterance interpretation. In G. Andersen & T. Fretheim (Ed.), Pragmatic markers and propositional attitude: Pragmatics and beyond (pp. 79). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  • Barbieri, Federica. (2005). Quotative use in American English. A corpus-based, cross-register comparison. Journal of English Linguistics, 33, (3), 225-256.
  • Barbieri, Federica. (2007). ‘Older men and younger women’: A corpus-based study of quotative use in American English. English World-Wide, 28, (1), 23-45.
  • Blyth, Carl, Jr.; Recktenwald, Sigrid; & Wang, Jenny. (1990). I’m like, ‘Say what?!’: A new quotative in American oral narrative. American Speech, 65, 215-227.
  • Cruse, A. (2000). Meaning in language. An introduction to semantics and pragmatics.
  • Cukor-Avila, Patricia; (2002). She says, she goes, she is like: Verbs of quotation over time in African American Vernacular English. American Speech, 77 (1), 3-31.
  • Dailey-O’Cain, Jennifer. (2000). The sociolinguistic distribution of and attitudes toward focuser like and quotative like. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 4, 60–80.
  • D’Arcy, Alexandra. (2017). Discourse-pragmatic variation in context: Eight hundred years of LIKE. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  • Ferrara, Kathleen; & Bell, Barbara. (1995). Sociolinguistic variation and discourse function of constructed dialogue introducers: The case of be+like. American Speech, 70, 265-289.
  • Fleischman, Suzanne. (1998). Des jumeaux du discours. La Linguistique, 34 (2), 31-47.
  • Golato, Andrea; (2000). An innovative German quotative for reporting on embodied actions: Und ich so/und er so ‘and I’m like/and he’s like’. Journal of Pragmatics, 32, 29–54.
  • Jones, Graham M. & Schieffelin, Bambi B. (2009). Enquoting Voices, Accomplishing Talk: Uses of Be+Like in Instant Messaging. Language & Communication, 29(1), 77-113.
  • Jucker, Andreas H.; & Smith, Sara W. (1998). And people just you know like ‘wow’: Discourse markers as negotiating strategies. In A. H. Jucker & Y. Ziv (Eds.), Discourse markers: Descriptions and theory (pp. 171–201). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  • Mesthrie, R., Swann, J., Deumert, A., & Leap, W. (2009). Introducing sociolinguistics. Edinburgh University Press.
  • Miller, Jim; Weinert, Regina. (1995). The function of like in dialogue. Journal of Pragmatics, 23, 365-93.
  • Romaine, Suzanne; Lange, Deborah. (1991). The use of like as a marker of reported speech and thought: A case of grammaticalization in progress. American Speech, 66, 227-279.
  • Ross, John R.; & Cooper, William E. (1979). Like syntax. In W. E. Cooper & E. C. T. Walker (Eds.), Sentence processing: Psycholinguistic studies presented to Merrill Garrett (pp. 343–418). New York: Erlbaum Associates.
  • Schourup, L. (1985). Common discourse particles: «Like», «well», «y’know». New York: Garland.
  • Siegel, Muffy E. A. (2002). Like: The discourse particle and semantics. Journal of Semantics, 19 (1), 35-71.
  • Taglimonte, Sali; & Hudson, Rachel. (1999). Be like et al. beyond America: The quotative system in British and Canadian youth. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 3 (2), 147-172.
  • Tagliamonte, Sali, and Alexandra D’Arcy. (2004). He’s like, she’s like: The quotative system in Canadian youth. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 8 (4), 493-514.
  • Underhill, Robert; (1988). Like is like, focus. American Speech, 63, 234-246.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c «Like». Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  2. ^ «As or like?». Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  3. ^ Seltzer, Leon F (March 7, 2017). «‘I Have Feelings for You,’ Its Eight Different Meanings». Psychology Today. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  4. ^ Tigar, Lindsay (January 19, 2016). «How to Say ‘I Like You’ When You’re Not Ready for ‘I Love You’«. Bustle. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  5. ^ a b McWhorter, John (November 25, 2016). «The Evolution of ‘Like’«. The Atlantic. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  6. ^ Quoted from: Daniel P. Cullen, «I’m Learning as I Go, and I Don’t Like That»: Urban Community College Students’ College Literacy, ProQuest, 2008, p. 210.
  7. ^ «Linguists are like, ‘Get used to it!’«. The Boston Globe.
  8. ^ Blyth, Carl; Recktenwald, Sigrid; Wang, Jenny (1990). «I’m like, «Say What?!»: A New Quotative in American Oral Narrative». American Speech. 65 (3): 215–227. doi:10.2307/455910. JSTOR 455910.
  9. ^ a b Andersen, Gisle; Thorstein Fretheim, eds. (2000). Pragmatic Markers and Propositional Attitude. John Benjamins Publishing. pp. 31–3. ISBN 9027250987.
  10. ^ Wolfson, Sam (15 May 2022). «Why do people, like, say, ‘like’ so much?». The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2022. But there are more uses than that, for example the Geordie tradition of finishing sentences with a like.
  11. ^ Mesthrie, R., Swann, J., Deumert, A., & Leap, W. (2009). Introducing sociolinguistics. Edinburgh University Press.
  12. ^ Griffiths, Sian; Julie Henry (June 16, 2019). «Like it or not, they can’t stop saying it on Love Island». The Times. London.

External links[edit]

Look up like in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

  • See Fleischman (1998) (JSTOR 30249153) for a parallel discussion of like and the similar discourse particle genre in French.

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