1. What is a simile?
Similes are used to compare things.
2. How to make similes
Similes can be made in 2 different ways:
- …as…as…
- …like…
3. As…as…
As…as… is used for adjectives (tall, fat, red) and adverbs (quickly, well, badly, intelligently).
It is made by:
- (noun x) is as (adjective) as (noun y)
- (noun x) (verb) as (adverb) as (noun y)
(n. x) is as (adj.) as (n. y) | (n. x) (v.) as (adv.) as (n. y) |
---|---|
He is as tall as a tree. | I run as slowly as I walk. |
She is as strong as a gorilla. | She does her homework as quickly as her mother eats her breakfast. |
This city is as ugly as a public toilet. | Terrance sings as well as I do. |
Isabella and Ryan are as mean as Cruella de Vil. | They are playing as badly as they always do. |
4. Like…
Like… is used to compare one thing (noun, verb or adjective) to another.
It is made by:
- (noun x) is like (noun y)
- (noun x) (verb) like (noun y)
- (noun x) is (adjective), like (noun y)
Noun | Verb | Adjective |
---|---|---|
Their house is like a palace. | She sings like an angel. | I am fat, like a lazy pig. |
The students are like prisoners, unable to escape. | My cat sleeps all day, like a koala. | He is tall, like his father. |
My hair is like a bird’s nest. | I dance like I run: badly. | The car is red, like a fire engine. |
This film is just like the last one. It is so stupid. | This computer’s fan sounds like a hovercraft. | Her new company is failing, like her last one did. |
5. Exercises
Create similes to describe:
(i) yourself
(ii) your best friend
(iii) your house
(iv) your favourite TV show