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Nsfs2 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

As if

Hi,

How would one understand these sentences?
1.' He acts as if he is the manager.'
2.'He acts as if he were the manager.'

I think that the first means that he is the manager and he is acting in a way that complies with his position, while
the second sentence indicates that he is not the manager.

Thanks for your help.
  

Top answer

' I understand them as two different ways of saying the same thing. English is very flexible about which tense follows 'as if'. nsfs2 I think that the first means that he is the manager and he is acting in a way that complies with his position No.

— CalifJim

  • ' I understand them as two different ways of saying the same thing.
  • English is very flexible about which tense follows 'as if'.
  • nsfs2 I think that the first means that he is the manager and he is acting in a way that complies with his position No.
  • Both sentences indicate that he is not the manager.
  • CJ
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8 Answers
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nsfs2How would one understand these sentences?1.' He acts as if he is the manager.'2.'He acts as if he were the manager.'
I understand them as two different ways of saying the same thing. English is very flexible about which tense follows 'as if'.
nsfs2I think that the first means that he is the manager and he is acting in a way that c
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With CJ's comment, I'd add a little extra.
1.' He acts as if he is the manager.' # 1 is indicative in present tense construction.
2.'He acted as if he were the manager.' # 2 you need "acted" to go with "were" to ma
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CalifJim nsfs2How would one understand these sentences?1.' He acts as if he is the manager.'2.'He acts as if he were the manager.'I understand them as two different ways of saying the same thing. English is very flexible about which tense follows 'as if'.nsfs2I think that the first means that he is the manager and he is acting in a way that complies with his positionNo. B
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i dunno about the first sentence but i read that "as if" indicates something unreal or contrary to fact and thus is very similar in form to conditional sentences. The verb which follows "as if" must be in the past tense or past perfect (the past tense of be in a contrary to fact statement must be were and never was). Sorry if i'm wrong...
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CalifJim English is very flexible about which tense follows 'as if'.
...including a mix:

1. 'He acts as if he's the manager.'
2. 'He acts as if he were the manager.'
3. 'He acted as if he were the manager.'
4. 'He acted as if he's the manager.'

While textbooks decry some of these, you'll hear them all
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so are these wrong???

1. subject + verb (present) + as if + subject + verb (past)
He acts as if he were a manager.
2. subject (past) + as if + subject verb (past perfect)
He acted as if he had seen a ghost.

The rules apply only when "as if" indicates a contrary to fact meaning. At times, they don't have that meaning and then wouldn
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nsfs2Does this mean that both of the structures can be used equally and on the same footing without giving any dissimilar implications.
Yes. Recognize, however, that the more prescriptive grammar books insist on "as if ... were".

CJ
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