Does "as" here have similar meaning as "like"? How can I use "as" like this?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
The word "as" in this case is used for comparison, and in this way, it is similar to the word "like". However, "like" is normally used as a preposition, whereas "as" is used as a conjunction in a sentence. "As" also indicates that something is done in the same manner as something else, while "like" usually refers to a similar characteristic that something has of another thing. In this case, "as" is a part of the expression "as many as", which is used to express that one thing should be to the same degree or amount as something else. Usually, the noun comes between "many" and "as" in this expression, but in cases where it was just stated or in response to something, it can be dropped since it is implied. Ex: She ate as many cookies as him. Ex: I have as many books as you. Ex: A: How many children do you have? B: As many as they have.
