According to a recent poll, owning and living in a freestanding house on its own land is still a goal of a majority of young adults, like that of earlier generations.

Can I say "as that of earlier generations"?

Thanks.

In unofficial English, it's ok to say "as that of earlier generations (is)".

But by what the GMAC considers the right grammar, in this circumstance, "like ..." is the only idiomatic option.

对，as 介词 作为连词 像

u gotto remember the difference between the clause of 'like' and 'as'.

as is followed by a SENTENCE,whereas like is followed by a CLAUSE