Comparisons Strategy (SC Chapter 8)

[alexia.sadun]

Juggling is a favorite pastime for me, like for you.

Is it correct to say: Juggling is a favorite pastime for me, like it is for you. (In this case like can be used since juggling is a gerund, is this correct?)


Thanks!

[esledge]

Nope. It doesn't matter that "juggling" is a gerund (i.e. a noun). You can't use "like" since you still have a verb in each part of the comparison!

Wrong: Juggling IS a favorite pastime for me, LIKE it IS for you.
Right: Juggling IS a favorite pastime for me, AS it IS for you.
Right: You, LIKE me, enjoy juggling as a favorite pastime. (note: only one verb here--enjoy--shared by both subjects)
Right: Juggling, LIKE tight-rope walking, is a favorite pastime for me. (note: only one verb here--is--shared by both gerund subjects)

[SushantG648]

Can we use "Juggling is a favorite pastime for me, as for you."

[esledge]

Can we use "Juggling is a favorite pastime for me, as for you."

When you use "as," you must be comparing actions, so a verb in a tense is required before and after the "as." The latter is missing in your example.

Here is a correction: Juggling is a favorite pastime for me, as it is/was/will be for you.

(Off-topic, but worth a mention: notice that the tenses don't have to be the same; all that "as" requires is comparison of clauses, each with a verb. If I juggle now, but you are just learning or have already retired from juggling, we need different tenses, and that's ok.)