There are times, as now, that learning grammar becomes

Question

1.There are times,  as  now, that learning grammar becomes important.
2. I will host the party if the guest list is  less than  fifty people.

In 1 shouldn't it be 'like'?
In 2 shouldn't it be 'fewer than'?

Thanks!

DAYNE · Answer

Like is used to compare two things, thus nothing is being compared in Sentence 1.

less than fits and sounds better than fewer than in Sentence 2

dimitri92 · Answer

Like:  should be used before a noun or a pronoun. 
 As:  should be used before a adverb, clause or prepositional phrase. As sometimes serves as a preposition with the meaning of 'in the capacity of'.

Paul's apple pie tastes   like   custard
He likes cheese burger because there's no snack   like   it
Paul's applie pie tastes fine,   as   a bakery's pie should
She played well this season,   as   in the season last year

Wrong: it seemed   that   she knew me
Correct: it seemed   as   if she knew me

Similarly, There are times,   as   now, that learning grammar becomes important.

TommyWallach · Answer

Hey All,

I got asked about this, but it looks like some responses have come in since then. However, I disagree with what Dimitri said a bit, so I want to correct.
 
1.There are times, as now, that learning grammar becomes important.
2. I will host the party if the guest list is less than fifty people.

The problem with this first one is that it isn't really a like/as issue at all. The first question should have "such as" now, not "as" now. "As" can ONLY be used in front of a clause if you're doing a comparison. This sentence doesn't feature it in a clause (it only has the word "now") in it. "Such as" would set up examples of times, of which "now" could be one. To repeat: I disagree with Dimitry. That is incorrectly written.

As for the second one, it's complicated. Technically, a guest list can't "be" fifty people. It could be "limited to fewer than fifty people", or "The guest list will feature fewer than fifty people." But to just use the straight verb makes no sense (either way, it would never be LESS with countable people.

ALSO: a correction of Dimitry. He wrote this sentence was correct: She played well this season, as in the season last year. "The season last year" has no verb, so it is not a clause. You'd have to say "like in the season last year".

-tommy

dimitri92 · Answer

thanks tommy .. nice explanation, as usual i'm learning!! :oops:

TommyWallach · Answer

Hey Dimitri,

Didn't mean to call you out at all! Your overall points were great! I just wanted to make sure everything was super clear. Keep doing your thing on here, and we shall meet again. : )

-tommy

There are times, as now, that learning grammar becomes

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