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As vs Like - Need clarity

Critical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension
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As vs Like - Need clarity

by balaji.smvm » Sun Oct 09, 2011 8:48 am
I often get confused with these two words As vs Like

Here is one question from Brutal SC (taken from resource link)

A higher interest rate is only one of the factors, albeit an important one, that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade.

a) that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade.
b) that keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did earlier in the decade
c) that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did earlier in the decade
d) that keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like earlier in the decade
e) that keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade

Why is it not Option A????

:)
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by Geva@EconomistGMAT » Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:34 am
balaji.smvm wrote:I often get confused with these two words As vs Like

Here is one question from Brutal SC (taken from resource link)

A higher interest rate is only one of the factors, albeit an important one, that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade.

a) that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade.
b) that keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did earlier in the decade
c) that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did earlier in the decade
d) that keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like earlier in the decade
e) that keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade

Why is it not Option A????

:)
Like can only be used to compare nouns - this table is like that table.
Like my father, I too am an engineer.

As can only be used to compare actions (verbs) -
As my father did, I too studied engineering.

Both the sentences above are correct comparisons, and they even mean the same thing. The difference is in what is being compared - I to my father, or what I DID to what my father DID.

As a rule of thumb, a "like" clause should not include a verb such as "did" (which is why A is wrong). If the comparative clause includes a verb, use "as". If not, use "like". Thus, A and E are immediately eliminated because of this mixup - using "like" with a verb "did".

C is eliminated because of the subject - verb agreement problem with the singualr verb "keeps", which does not agree with the plural subject "factors". The factors keep the housing market form spiraling, and a higher interest rate is only one of these factors.

Finally, D is eliminated not for grammar reasons, but for an illogical comparison - it compares the market to "earlier in the decade". when comparing make sure that the two things compared are logically comparable - compare apples to oranges, not to Ourang-Outangs.
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