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Ant_222 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Concerning "as if"
Hello all,
I thought that the "as if" construction could not be followed by the Present Simple tense because what follows is hypothetical. But recently I stumbled across this sentence:
"It's great already, just seeing it in three-dee and talking with you just as if you're real."
Could you please explain to me this usage?
Anton
I thought that the "as if" construction could not be followed by the Present Simple tense because what follows is hypothetical. But recently I stumbled across this sentence:
"It's great already, just seeing it in three-dee and talking with you just as if you're real."
Could you please explain to me this usage?
Anton
Top answer
Hi as if + present simple = something which may be true Example - it looks as if the weather is improving.
- Hi as if + present simple = something which may be true Example - it looks as if the weather is improving.
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23 Answers
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Hi
as if + present simple = something which may be true
Example - it looks as if the weather is improving.
as if + present simple = something which may be true
Example - it looks as if the weather is improving.
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Ant_222 "It's great already, just seeing it in three-dee and talking with you just as if you're real."I'm not sure of the context here, but to me it's simply bad language.
People today are quite sophisticated, and unlikely to be truly confused between reality and "virtual reality."
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Ant_222I thought that the "as if" construction could not be followed by the Present Simple tenseWell, you thought wrong, dintcha?
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I can recall I have asked the question is pretty close to presented here.
It can help also.
It can help also.
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Wow. Thanks to all of you for your feedback!
Avangi:
«I'm not sure of the context here, but to me it's simply bad language.»
The context is the following: a girl is playing a very unusual computer game (which then turns out to be a portal to another world, and not a game at all), which offers an amazingly high level of engagement and immersion that allows the girl to feel alm
Avangi:
«I'm not sure of the context here, but to me it's simply bad language.»
The context is the following: a girl is playing a very unusual computer game (which then turns out to be a portal to another world, and not a game at all), which offers an amazingly high level of engagement and immersion that allows the girl to feel alm
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«He acts like he was a professional photographer», I suppose only "as if" fits here... Am I wrong again?
I personally wouldn't hesitate to use "He acts like he were a pro. etc."
But it's getting a little out of style.
I personally wouldn't hesitate to use "He acts like he were a pro. etc."
But it's getting a little out of style.
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Well, Anton, you do ask some challenging questions!
Ant_222As for your examples, I got a question only about this one:Yes.
«Karen talks as if she knows what she's talking about.»
Am I right that the difference between this and the subjunctive version ("as if she knew") is that the latter implies that she doesn't know what she's talking about?
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Thank you, Avagni and CJ. Things a getting more interesting as we delve deeper. And I am beginning to acquire an understanding, or so it seems to me ))
Anton
Anton
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Ant_222I am beginning to acquire an understanding, or so it seems to meWait a while. The feeling will pass!
I heard a good one the other day. It illustrates how ambivalent people are about whether to use like, that, or as if in any given situation. Combinations like the following are not unusual in American speech.
Janice
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