I. PREPOSITION AND CONJUNCTION USES
(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If you say that one person or thing is ~ another, you mean that they share some of the same qualities or features.
He looks ~ Father Christmas...
Kathy is a great mate, we are ~ sisters...
It’s nothing ~ what happened in the mid-Seventies...
This is just ~ old times.
...a mountain shaped ~ a reclining woman.
PREP
2.
If you talk about what something or someone is ~, you are talking about their qualities or features.
What was Bulgaria ~?...
What did she look ~?...
What was it ~ growing up in Hillsborough?...
PREP
3.
You can use ~ to introduce an example of the set of things or people that you have just mentioned.
The neglect that large cities ~ New York have received over the past 12 years is tremendous...
He could say things ~, ‘Let’s go to the car’ or ‘Let us go for a walk’ in French.
= such as
PREP: n PREP n/-ing
4.
You can use ~ to say that someone or something is in the same situation as another person or thing.
It also moved those who, ~ me, are too young to have lived through the war...
PREP
5.
If you say that someone is behaving ~ something or someone else, you mean that they are behaving in a way that is typical of that kind of thing or person. Like is used in this way in many fixed expressions, for example to cry ~ a baby and to watch someone ~ a hawk.
I was shaking all over, trembling ~ a leaf...
Greenfield was behaving ~ an irresponsible idiot.
PREP: v PREP n
6.
You can use ~ in expressions such as that’s just ~ her and it wasn’t ~ him to indicate that the person’s behaviour is or is not typical of their character.
You should have told us. But it’s just ~ you not to share...
PREP: v-link PREP n
7.
Like is sometimes used as a conjunction in order to say that something appears to be the case when it is not. Some people consider this use to be incorrect.
On the train up to Waterloo, I felt ~ I was going on an adventure.
= as if
CONJ
8.
Like is sometimes used as a conjunction in order to indicate that something happens or is done in the same way as something else. Some people consider this use to be incorrect.
People are strolling, buying ice cream for their children, just ~ they do every Sunday...
He spoke exactly ~ I did...
We really were afraid, not ~ in the cinema.
= as
CONJ
9.
You can use ~ in negative expressions such as nothing ~ it and no place ~ it to emphasize that there is nothing as good as the situation, thing, or person mentioned.
There’s nothing ~ candlelight for creating a romantic mood...
There was no feeling ~ it in the world.
PREP: with neg emphasis
10.
You can use ~ in expressions such as nothing ~ to make an emphatic negative statement.
Three hundred million dollars will be nothing ~ enough...
It’s really not anything ~ as bad as it looks.
PREP: with neg emphasis
II. VERB USES
(~s, liking, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ something or someone, you think they are interesting, enjoyable, or attractive.
He ~s baseball...
I can’t think why Grace doesn’t ~ me...
What music do you ~ best?...
I just didn’t ~ being in crowds...
Do you ~ to go swimming?...
I ~ my whisky neat...
That’s one of the things I ~ about you. You’re strong.
VERB: no cont, V n, V n, V n, V -ing, V to-inf, V n adj/prep, V n about n/-ing
2.
If you ask someone how they ~ something, you are asking them for their opinion of it and whether they enjoy it or find it pleasant.
How do you ~ America?...
How did you ~ the trip?
VERB: no cont, no passive, V n/-ing, V n/-ing
3.
If you ~ something such as a particular course of action or way of behaving, you approve of it.
I’ve been looking at the cookery book. I ~ the way it is set out...
The US administration would ~ to see a negotiated settlement to the war...
Opal, his wife, didn’t really ~ him drinking so much...
I don’t ~ relying on the judges’ decisions.
VERB: no cont, V n, V to-inf, V n -ing, V -ing, also V n about n/-ing
4.
If you say that you ~ to do something or that you ~ something to be done, you mean that you prefer to do it or prefer it to be done as part of your normal life or routine.
I ~ to get to airports in good time...
I hear Mary’s husband ~s her to be home no later than six o’clock.
VERB: no cont, no passive, V to-inf, V n to-inf
5.
If you say that you would ~ something or would ~ to do something, you are indicating a wish or desire that you have.
I’d ~ a bath...
If you don’t mind, I think I’d ~ to go home.
VERB: no cont, no passive, V n, V to-inf
6.
You can say that you would ~ to say something to indicate that you are about to say it.
I’d ~ to apologize...
I would ~ to take this opportunity of telling you about a new service which we are offering.
VERB: no cont, no passive, V to-inf, V to-inf
7.
If you ask someone if they would ~ something or would ~ to do something, you are making a polite offer or invitation.
Here’s your change. Would you ~ a bag?...
Perhaps while you wait you would ~ a drink at the bar...
Would you ~ to come back for coffee?
VERB: no cont, no passive, V n, V n, V to-inf politeness
8.
If you say to someone that you would ~ something or you would ~ them to do something, or ask them if they would ~ to do it, you are politely telling them what you want or what you want them to do.
I’d ~ an explanation...
We’d ~ you to look around and tell us if anything is missing...
Would you ~ to tell me what happened?
VERB: no cont, no passive, V n, V n to-inf, V to-inf politeness
III. NOUN USES AND PHRASES
(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
You can use ~ in expressions such as ~ attracts ~, when you are referring to two or more people or things that have the same or similar characteristics.
You have to make sure you’re comparing ~ with ~...
Homeopathic treatment is based on the ‘~ cures ~’ principle.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
Someone’s ~s are the things that they enjoy or find pleasant.
I thought that I knew everything about Jemma: her ~s and dis~s, her political viewpoints.
? dis~s
N-PLURAL: usu poss N
3.
see also liking
4.
You say if you ~ when you are making or agreeing to an offer or suggestion in a casual way.
You can stay here if you ~...
‘Shall we stop talking about her?’—‘If you ~.’
PHRASE: PHR with cl
5.
You say if you ~ when you are expressing something in a different way, or in a way that you think some people might disagree with or find strange.
This is more ~ a downpayment, or a deposit, if you ~.
= let’s say
PHRASE: PHR with cl/group
6.
You can use the expressions ~ anything, ~ crazy, or ~ mad to emphasize that someone is doing something or something is happening in a very energetic or noticeable way. (INFORMAL)
He’s working ~ mad at the moment.
PHRASE: PHR after v emphasis
7.
You say ~ this, ~ that, or ~ so when you are showing someone how something is done.
It opens and closes, ~ this.
PHRASE: usu PHR with cl
8.
You use ~ this or ~ that when you are drawing attention to something that you are doing or that someone else is doing.
I’m sorry to intrude on you ~ this...
Stop pacing ~ that.
PHRASE: PHR after v
9.
You use the expression something ~ with an amount, number, or description to indicate that it is approximately accurate.
They can get something ~ ?3,000 a year...
‘When roughly would this be? Monday?’—‘Something ~ that.’
= about
PHRASE: PHR n
10.
If you refer to something the ~ of which or the ~s of which has never been seen before, you are emphasizing how important, great, or noticeable the thing is.
...technological advances the ~ of which the world had previously only dreamed of...
We are dealing with an epidemic the ~s of which we have never seen in this century.
= such as
PHRASE: n PHR cl emphasis