As if / As though
B2 Upper IntermediateUse 'as if' and 'as though' to describe how a situation appears or to make comparisons with hypothetical scenarios.
Overview
These conjunctions function identically to describe the appearance or impression of a situation. They are frequently used after verbs of perception such as look, sound, feel, and seem. While 'as if' is more common, 'as though' is slightly more formal.
Real vs. Unreal Situations
Subject + Verb + as if / as though + Clause
The choice of tense depends on whether the speaker believes the situation is likely to be true or is purely imaginary.
- Real/Likely: Use present tenses for things that are probably true (e.g., 'He looks as if he is finished').
- Unreal/Hypothetical: Use past tenses to show the situation is impossible or untrue (e.g., 'He acts as if he were the boss').
Indicative vs. Subjunctive
In formal English, 'were' is often used instead of 'was' in unreal comparisons, similar to the second conditional.
| Tense | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | Likely or possible | It looks as if it is raining. |
| Past Simple | Unreal or imaginary | He talks as if he knew the secret. |
| Past Perfect | Unreal past comparison | She looked as though she had seen a ghost. |
Examples
Common mistakes
It looks like as if it will rain.
It looks as if it will rain.
Do not combine 'like' and 'as if'. Use one or the other.
He acts as if he is a king (when he clearly isn't).
He acts as if he were a king.
Use the past tense or subjunctive to indicate that a comparison is not true.
Practice
She is very pale. She looks as if she ___ (see) a ghost just now.
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had seen
Answer:had seen
Why:The past perfect is used for an unreal comparison to a previous event.
He isn't the owner, but he talks as if he ___ (own) the whole company.
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owned
Answer:owned
Why:The past simple (or 'were to own') indicates the situation is hypothetical or untrue.
Listen to that wind! It sounds as though a storm ___ (come).
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is coming
Answer:is coming
Why:The present continuous is used because the storm is a real and likely possibility based on the evidence.