As if by

Question

I feel as if by being punched in my face.Is this correct ?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

messier42 I feel as if by being punched in my face.Is this correct ?

No.

I feel as if I [am / was / were] being punched in the face.

No 'by'.

CJ

Messier42 · Answer

Thank you! When do you use " as if by"?

CalifJim · Answer

messier42When do you use " as if by"?

You take a sentence that has a prepositional phrase with "by":

The ball moved up the hill by magic.

Then you put "as if" in front of it:

The ball moved up the hill as if by magic.

"as if by magic" is probably the most common phrase of this type.

The plants were described as withered, as if by fire.
Every time we think of giving up, someone steps in almost as if by fate.
Looking into the machine, the boy saw the bones in his foot, as if by some miracle.

CJ

As if by

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