behaved as they did vs behaved like them

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Behaved as they did' is used to compare behavior or actions, while 'behaved like them' is used to compare behavior or characteristics. It's important to choose the correct preposition based on what is being compared.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1008 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to compare behavior or actions.

"behaved as they did"

This phrase is used to compare one's behavior or actions to those of others. It indicates similarity in behavior or actions.

Examples:

The children behaved as they did in the previous class.
She behaved as they did during the crisis.

Show examples from the web [+]

If the founding fathers had behaved as they did, there would have been no united Europe, and half a billion Europeans would never have known peace, freedom and prosperity.
If we behaved as wimps for sure we would discover.
They behaved as persons from a cartoon.
You behaved as though you belonged on the bridge.
The sack has behaved as if the boat stationary.
He behaved as if he were crazy.
In the last months, Hamas still definitely behaved as a terrorist organisation.
At first, you behaved as if it were just fun.
I haven't been much of a mother to you, and I thought it was about time I behaved as such.
If we can learn why your body behaved as it did, we'll finally have a key to a vaccine.
...and you must admit that you behaved as if it was.
After we met at a party and behaved as if I had committed... a horrible crime, and really were afraid of me.
Some of the very best radio men I ever knew often behaved as you do, but then they never got what you get.
Feeling... that I haven't behaved as I should.
EL behaved as a company, without integrity, care or diligence, though with a great deal of self-interested skill.
Mr President, since the start of the Yugoslav wars, the Republic of Macedonia - I prefer to use this abbreviation - has behaved as a constructive peace-keeper.
The Soviet premier has behaved as I believe I would... under similar conditions.
But no Larrabee has behaved as you have behaved tonight!
He should have behaved as a son, then.
Ever since the death of Caspian the ninth, you've behaved as if you were king.

Alternatives:

acted as they did
responded as they did
performed as they did
reacted as they did
conducted themselves as they did

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to compare behavior or characteristics.

"behaved like them"

This phrase is used to compare one's behavior or characteristics to those of others. It indicates similarity in behavior or characteristics.

Examples:

He behaved like them when faced with a difficult situation.
She behaved like them in her approach to the problem.

Show examples from the web [+]

Maybe because you behaved like an idiot.
I'm embarrassed, I behaved like a fool.
I haven't always behaved like an upright citizen.
You behaved like anyone who found their ex-boyfriend dating their archenemy.
Of course... you behaved like a cheated lover.
Paul has never behaved like this.
In any case, you've behaved like true professionals.
I behaved like such a fool.
Probably why I behaved like I did.
I behaved like a dog with you.
But when the scientists weren't watching, then the electrons behaved like waves.
I shouldn't have behaved like this.
Captain Sir John Lindsay would never have behaved like this.
I think your boyfriend has behaved like a fool.
I've behaved like a schoolboy and I'm sorry.
I behaved like an idiot with you lately.
I behaved like the hero of the book.
We'd all have "admirers" if we behaved like you.
My heart behaved like a fool.
Some Member States behaved like children, hiding their misdeeds.

Alternatives:

acted like them
responded like them
functioned like them
mimicked them
imitated them

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behaved as they did vs behaved like them