When do we use "like" and when "as"?

English as a Second Language English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
1

Test No. [color=blue]incompl/inter-54 “Lots of Stuff”, question 2

You know the kind of things politicians talk about: health care, education, welfare and stuff … that.

(a) as
(b) with
(c) on
(d) like

Test No. [color=blue]incompl/inter-54 “Lots of Stuff”, answer 2

You know the kind of things politicians talk about: health care, education, welfare and stuff like that.

Correct answer: (d) like

Hello! Could you tell me the reason for using word “like”. Why I cannot use word “as”?
Thanks
Logician.

2

Hi Logician,

The expression ‘stuff like that’ means ‘stuff similar to that’. If you use ‘as’ it would have to be used with a positive comparative: as … as. The other use of ‘as’ is when you use it in the sense of a conjunction: They do it the same way as I do.

Alan

3

Hi Alan! Thank you very much.
Logician.