Difference between revisions of "Language/English/Vocabulary/As-if-and-as-though;-like"
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Examples: | Examples: | ||
It looks as if/though it’s going to snow. | *It looks as if/though it’s going to snow. | ||
It sounds as if/though John’s going to change his job. | *It sounds as if/though John’s going to change his job. | ||
''' ''' | ''' ''' | ||
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Examples: | Examples: | ||
I feel as if/though I'm dying. | *I feel as if/though I'm dying. | ||
She was acting as if/though she was in charge. | *She was acting as if/though she was in charge. | ||
==Tenses== | ==Tenses== | ||
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Compare: | Compare: | ||
*She looks as if she is rich. (Perhaps she is.) | |||
He talks as if he was rich. (But he is definitely not.) | *He talks as if he was rich. (But he is definitely not.) | ||
*You look as though you know each other. | |||
*Why is he looking at me as though he knew me? I've never seen him before. | |||
'''In a formal style, "were" can be used instead of "was" in an ‘unreal’ comparison. This is common in American English.''' | '''In a formal style, "were" can be used instead of "was" in an ‘unreal’ comparison. This is common in American English.''' | ||
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Example: | Example: | ||
He talks as if he were rich. | *He talks as if he were rich. | ||
=="Like" meaning as "as if" or "though"== | =="Like" meaning as "as if" or "though"== | ||
"Like" is often used in the same way as "as if/though", particularly in an informal style. This used to be typically American English, but it is now common in British English. | "Like" is often used in the same way as "as if/though", particularly in an informal style. This used to be typically American English, but it is now common in British English. | ||
Examples: | Examples: | ||
It seems like it’s going to snow. | *It seems like it’s going to snow. | ||
He sat there smiling like it was his birthday. | *He sat there smiling like it was his birthday. |
Revision as of 21:37, 13 May 2020
As if / as though / like
Meaning
As if and as though are both used to say what a situation seems like. They can refer to something that we think may be true.
Examples:
- It looks as if/though it’s going to snow.
- It sounds as if/though John’s going to change his job.
They can also be used to talk about things which we know are not true.
Examples:
- I feel as if/though I'm dying.
- She was acting as if/though she was in charge.
Tenses
When we talk about things which we know are not true, we can use a past tense with a present meaning after as if/though. This emphasises the meaning of unreality.
Compare:
- She looks as if she is rich. (Perhaps she is.)
- He talks as if he was rich. (But he is definitely not.)
- You look as though you know each other.
- Why is he looking at me as though he knew me? I've never seen him before.
In a formal style, "were" can be used instead of "was" in an ‘unreal’ comparison. This is common in American English.
Example:
- He talks as if he were rich.
"Like" meaning as "as if" or "though"
"Like" is often used in the same way as "as if/though", particularly in an informal style. This used to be typically American English, but it is now common in British English.
Examples:
- It seems like it’s going to snow.
- He sat there smiling like it was his birthday.