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Pructus Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Treated as if

Hello, dear Members and Gurus!!

a. He took care of her as if she was her own child.
b. He took care of her as if she had been her own child.

Among these two, what can be the difference?
Maybe a. depicts some momentary event while b. refers to some event that had gone on for some time?
Or, maybe there isn't any difference in meaning?
  

Top answer

It depends on the context. Both are possible, although (a) is more likely to be used. Also, some might object to the use of "was" in (a) and might insist on "were".

— Xerxes

  • It depends on the context.
  • Both are possible, although (a) is more likely to be used.
  • Also, some might object to the use of "was" in (a) and might insist on "were".
  • With that in mind: a.
  • He took care of her as if she were her own child.
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4 Answers
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It depends on the context. Both are possible, although (a) is more likely to be used. Also, some might object to the use of "was" in (a) and might insist on "were". With that in mind:

a. He took care of her as if she were her own child.
He took care of her as if [at that point in the past, when he was taking care of her] she was her own child. Which she wasn't.

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I see... I see....
Thanks so much, Xerxes...
And also thanks to you, tamguatlay and fivejedjon for stopping by....
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Do you mean "He took care of her as if she was his own child"? The second sentence has a slight implication that the child may no longer be alive but in normal speech either could be used.
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It's my mistake...
It had to be written like below...
Thanks so much Vic Z...


a. He took care of her as if she was his own child.
b. He took care of her as if she had been his own child.
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