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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

As if

Hi,

It looks like snow. - It is snow, probably.
It looks as if it's snow. - It reminds of snow, but it's not.

Am I right?
  

Top answer

Anonymous It looks like snow. It looks as if it's snow. Both of these mean that it has the appearance of snow.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous It looks like snow.
  • It looks as if it's snow.
  • Both of these mean that it has the appearance of snow.
  • Neither one says whether it really is snow or really is not snow.
  • Nevertheless, you're right in thinking that people are more likely to use the second sentence in cases where they already know that it is not snow.
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15 Answers
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AnonymousIt looks like snow. ... It looks as if it's snow.
Both of these mean that it has the appearance of snow. Neither one says whether it really is snow or really is not snow. Nevertheless, you're right in thinking that people are more likely to use the second sentence in cases where they already know that it is not snow.

CJ
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What about these two? She treats me as if I'm a girl. and She treats me like I'm a girl.
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Hello,

She treats me as if I'm a girl. - I'm not a girl.

Could the second sentence mean the same as the first one?
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AnonymousShe treats me as if I'm a girl. and She treats me like I'm a girl.
Same meaning.

CJ
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Dusan StojilkovicShe treats me as if I'm a girl. - I'm not a girl.
Could the second sentence mean the same as the first one?
No. Isn't that obvious? If you said "I'm not a girl" what information would that give your listener about how 'she' treats you? The sentences are about different things.

CJ
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Haha. When I said the second sentence I thought 'She treats me like I'm a girl'. Emotion: smile
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AnonymousWhat about these two? She treats me as if I'm a girl. and She treats me like I'm a girl.
You can also say as though (my personal favorite).
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She seems as if she hasn't for days. (He seems not to have slept for days, but he has, he probably has or we don't know if he has or not.)

Does the word 'like' work here as well?
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Dusan StojilkovicDoes the word 'like' work here as well?
I don't see why not.
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Oh, I left out 'slept'. Ha.
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