as if nothing had happened
fixed phr..fixed phr.. you use this to describe someone acting normal or calm after something shocking or bad just occurred.
fixed phr.. a comparative adverbial phrase used to describe a subject's behavior as being incongruously calm or unchanged following a significant or disruptive event.
He broke the vase and walked away as if nothing had happened.
After their huge argument last night, she came downstairs for breakfast and smiled as if nothing had happened.
The corporation resumed its standard marketing campaign just days after the scandal broke, continuing as if nothing had happened to their reputation.
usually follows a verb of action or behavior like 'act', 'behave', 'carry on', or 'continue'.
this phrase is a great way to introduce the past perfect in a fixed context; the 'happened' must be in the past relative to the 'acting'.
He acted as if nothing happened.He acted as if nothing had happened.the past perfect 'had happened' is standard here to show the event occurred before the current behavior.