AS IF, AS THOUGH Clauses that start with as if/as though express unreality, improbability or doubt if they are followed by an unreal tense (a past subjunctive or a past perfect subjunctive) Otherwise, they express that the statement is true The past subjunctive is used if we talk about an unreal situation in the present However, if the situation is true, we use a real tense expressing present time: (1) He looks as though he knew the answer (He gives the impression that he knows the answer, but he doesn't know, probably doesn't know or we don't know whether he knows or not.) (2) He looks as if he knows the answer (He knows the answer.) If we put the verb preceding as if/as though into the past tense, the present simple knows changes into past simple, following the sequence of tenses, whereas the past subjunctive knew stays the same Therefore both sentences will read as follows: He looked as if he knew the answer Consequently, the meaning of this sentence (whether he knew the answer or not) can only be deduced from the context The past perfect subjunctive is used if we refer to an unreal past situation If the situation is true, we use a real tense expressing past time: He seems as if he hadn’t slept for days (He seems not to have slept for days, but he has, he probably has or we don't know if he has or not.) He seems as though he hasn't slept for days (He hasn't slept for days.) He seemed as if he hadn't slept for days One of the uses of the past subjunctive is after as if/ as though to indicate unreality or improbability or doubt in the present He behaves as if she was the boss here (But she isn't the boss or we don't know whether she is the boss or not.) He talks as though he knew who Jane was (But he doesn't know or we don't know whether he knows or not.) He looks at me as if I were guilty (But I am not guilty.) The verb preceding as if / though can be put to a past tense without changing the tense of the subjunctive: He talks/talked as though he knew who Jane was After as if / though we use a past perfect when referring to a real or imaginary action in the past: He talks about Rome as though he had been there himself (But he hasn't or probably hasn't or we don't know whether he has or not.) Again, the verb preceding as if / though can be put into a past tense without changing the tense of the subjunctive: Her eyes look/looked as if she had been crying Task: Open the brackets Pay attention to the comments given in brackets 1) 2) 3) 4) He behaves as if she _ (be) the boss here (But she isn't the boss or we don't know whether she is the boss or not.) He talks as though he _ (know) who Jane was (But he doesn't know or we don't know whether he knows or not.) He looks at me as if I _ (be) guilty (But I am not guilty.) He talks about Rome as though he _ (be) there himself (But he hasn't or probably hasn't or we don't know whether he has or not.) 5) I remember stepping off the boat in New York as if it _ (be) yesterday 6) He behaves as if he _ (own) the place (But he doesn’t own it or probably doesn’t own it or we don’t know whether he owns it or not.) 7) He orders me about as if I _ (be) his wife (But I am not.) 8) His older brother always treats him as if he _ (be) a child (He is not a child, but his brother often talks to him like a child.) 9) She spoke to me as if she _ (know) me, but I had never met her before 10) He was crying as though he _ (be) mad (But he isn’t mad.) 11) I can’t put up with your behaviour You order about as if you _ (be) the boss, which you are not 12) Is Andrea feeling well? I spoke to her today and it sounded as if she _ (be) getting a cold 13) The airplanes were so close together it looked as if they _ (be) going to crash! 14) She’s behaving as if she _ (be) the Queen of England! 15) She described it as if she (see) it all with her own eyes 16) She loves them as though they _ (be) her children (But she is childless.) 17) He looks as if he _ (be) old and sick (But he is 25 and quite healthy.)