Grammar

Question

What is the difference between "as if" and " as though"? And when can you use them ?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

I can think of no situation in which they are not utterly interchangeable.

Anonymous · Answer

AnonymousWhat is the difference between "as if" and " as though"?
And when can you use them ?

Hi,

"What is the difference between "as if" and " as though"?"

There is no differerence between "as if" and "as though" in usage.

"And when can you use them ?"

The expressions very often are followed by past subjunctives with the present meaning to show an unreal comparison:

He behaves as if/as though he was/were a boss. (But he is not a boss.)

She talks as if/as though she knew everything. (But she doesn't know everything.)

Both expressions can be followed by a verb put in the past perfect tense when referring to an unlikely real action or imaginary situation in the past:

She talks about the place as if/as though she had been there./She talked about the place as if/as though she had been there. (But she probably hasn't been/was there; or we don't know whether she has been/was there.)

He behaves as if/as though he had been a boss./He behaved as if/as though he had been a boss. (But he probably

hasn't been/was a boss; or we don't know whether he has been/was a boss.)

Grammar

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions