using "like" in its prepositional sense meaning "similar to" to introduce a full-blown clause rather than just a noun or pronoun: classic or dud?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

What is the current thinking on this thorny grammatical question?

― michael jackson's nose, Thursday, 20 January 2005 13:43 (twenty-one years ago)

examples, please.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Thursday, 20 January 2005 13:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i like a bird

― Stevem On X (blueski), Thursday, 20 January 2005 13:45 (twenty-one years ago)

For example, you hear and read "like I say" pretty regularly now. I was taught that this is wrong, but maybe times have moved on. What I was taught: like + noun/pronoun, but as + noun/pronoun + verb.

― michael jackson's nose, Thursday, 20 January 2005 13:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Starting and abandonning random threads like mad Nebachadnezzar eating grass...

(Is that the sort of thing you're talking about?)

― Masonic Boom-Boom (kate), Thursday, 20 January 2005 13:49 (twenty-one years ago)

That usage is correct, because "mad Nedachadnezzar eating grass" acts as a noun phrase.

"Do it like I do" = traditionally wrong
"Do it like me" = traditionally right

― michael jackson's nose, Thursday, 20 January 2005 13:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Like sand through the hourglass, my leg just fell asleep...

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 20 January 2005 13:53 (twenty-one years ago)

how about

" i was like, good gracious
ass is bodacious oh flirtatious, tryin to show patience..."

and suchlike.

― piscesboy, Thursday, 20 January 2005 13:57 (twenty-one years ago)

'Like I say' is an abomination of the English language. It is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

― grammarian, Thursday, 20 January 2005 16:17 (twenty-one years ago)

who cares?

― Stevem On X (blueski), Thursday, 20 January 2005 16:18 (twenty-one years ago)

LIKE OH - MY GOD - GET ONE LIFE etc.

― Stevem On X (blueski), Thursday, 20 January 2005 16:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't see what's wrong with 'like I say'. It's far less ungrammatical than a lot of colloquial expressions. Stevem OTM as well, really.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 20 January 2005 16:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I've got a life, thanks. And it's a life that's mildly irritated by crap grammar. 'Like I say' is ungrammatical. Although it's not going to significantly fuck up my life if people keep on writing it or anything.

― grammarian, Thursday, 20 January 2005 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

What's it to you, like?

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 20 January 2005 16:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmm. I've never heard of this prohibition.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 January 2005 16:27 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.getitwriteonline.com/archive/012201.htm

― grammarian, Thursday, 20 January 2005 16:34 (twenty-one years ago)

WHAT IS HE LIKE? WHAT'S HE LIKE ANYWAY?

― Neneh Cherry On Buddy X (blueski), Thursday, 20 January 2005 16:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Here's the rule of thumb: if you can substitute "like unto" for "like", it's certifiably OK to say it. In all other cases you may say it, then you must do penance. Two 'Hail Marys' or an 'Our father' should be enough. Self-flagellation is saved for more serious offenses.

BTW, you may say "like" followed by a gerund and nobody will bat an eyelash, I guarantee you.

― Aimless (Aimless), Thursday, 20 January 2005 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Like unto I say, no problem.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 20 January 2005 16:55 (twenty-one years ago)

[Sings] He's got it. He's got it. I do believe he's got it.

― Aimless (Aimless), Thursday, 20 January 2005 17:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, 'as' is required when it's introducing a verb phrase, but only mentalist grammatical nuts really care about not using 'like' instead. I think there is a justification for 'like' if you are trying to convey not so much 'in the exact same way as' and more 'in a similar way to', but that's just an opinion, not grammatical fact (if there is such a thing).

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 20 January 2005 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Fuck one grammar.

― dog latin (dog latin), Thursday, 20 January 2005 19:37 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.