Kilimanjaro Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
as if / as though (reality vs unreality)
Hello,
I hope someone reads and helps me
What are the differences between the two following sentences in meaning? Do they mean different things or is there a point where they semantically meet? Sometimes I find subjunctive constructions unbelievably complicated. In most cases, it is difficult to tell which is which.
From the report, it looked as if he played a crucial role in smuggling.
From the report, it looked as if he had played a crucial role in smuggling.
And here is some information about what outstanding writers say on the issue; I'm damned if I have understood anything! I'll send two packets of Turkish Delight and a tepsi of Baklava to whoever can help me out understand the subject:)
Michael SWAN : Practical English Usage, page 180-181
I felt like / as if I was swimming ( It seemed as if I was swimming)
Alice felt as if / as though she was in a very nice dream.
Alice feels as if / as though she is in a very nice dream.
Michael SWAN : Practical English Usage, page 424
5 If, as if and as though
It is used to introduce some clauses with if, as and as though.
It looks as if we’re going to have have trouble with an again
It’s not as if this was the first time she’s been difficult. ( gerçek degil ama öyle görünüyor. Hayali, uydurma)
Martin HEWINGS Advanced grammar in Use page 170.
I remember stepping off the boat in New York as if it were yesterday
Despite losing the election, she continuous to act as though she were prime minister.
A practical English Grammar A.J. THOMSON. A.V MARTINET Page : 250
The past subjunctive can be used similarly after as if / as though to indicate unreality or improbability or doubt in the present (there is no difference between as if and as though)
He behaves as if he owned th eplace ( But he doesn’t own it or probably doesn’t own it or we don’t know whether he owns it or not)
He talks as though he knew where she was (but he doesn’t know or he probably doesn’t know or we don’t know whether he knows or not)
He orders me about as if I were his wife ( But I am not).
The verb preceding as if as though can be put into a past tense without changing the tense of the subjunctive:
He talks / talked as though he knew where she was.
After as if / as though we use Past Perfect when refering 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 he hasn’t or we don’t know whether he has or not)
Again, the verb preceding as if / as though can be put into a Past Tense without changing the tense of the subjunctive :
He looks / looked as though he hadn’t had a decent meal for a month
Thanks a million!
I hope someone reads and helps me
What are the differences between the two following sentences in meaning? Do they mean different things or is there a point where they semantically meet? Sometimes I find subjunctive constructions unbelievably complicated. In most cases, it is difficult to tell which is which.
From the report, it looked as if he played a crucial role in smuggling.
From the report, it looked as if he had played a crucial role in smuggling.
And here is some information about what outstanding writers say on the issue; I'm damned if I have understood anything! I'll send two packets of Turkish Delight and a tepsi of Baklava to whoever can help me out understand the subject:)
Michael SWAN : Practical English Usage, page 180-181
I felt like / as if I was swimming ( It seemed as if I was swimming)
Alice felt as if / as though she was in a very nice dream.
Alice feels as if / as though she is in a very nice dream.
Michael SWAN : Practical English Usage, page 424
5 If, as if and as though
It is used to introduce some clauses with if, as and as though.
It looks as if we’re going to have have trouble with an again
It’s not as if this was the first time she’s been difficult. ( gerçek degil ama öyle görünüyor. Hayali, uydurma)
Martin HEWINGS Advanced grammar in Use page 170.
I remember stepping off the boat in New York as if it were yesterday
Despite losing the election, she continuous to act as though she were prime minister.
A practical English Grammar A.J. THOMSON. A.V MARTINET Page : 250
The past subjunctive can be used similarly after as if / as though to indicate unreality or improbability or doubt in the present (there is no difference between as if and as though)
He behaves as if he owned th eplace ( But he doesn’t own it or probably doesn’t own it or we don’t know whether he owns it or not)
He talks as though he knew where she was (but he doesn’t know or he probably doesn’t know or we don’t know whether he knows or not)
He orders me about as if I were his wife ( But I am not).
The verb preceding as if as though can be put into a past tense without changing the tense of the subjunctive:
He talks / talked as though he knew where she was.
After as if / as though we use Past Perfect when refering 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 he hasn’t or we don’t know whether he has or not)
Again, the verb preceding as if / as though can be put into a Past Tense without changing the tense of the subjunctive :
He looks / looked as though he hadn’t had a decent meal for a month
Thanks a million!
Top answer
I think the answers are in your post Let’s look at your first sentence From the report, it looked as if he played a crucial role in smuggling. This is the subjunctive about the present . From the report, it looked as if he played a crucial role in smuggling (But he does not play any crucial role in smuggling, or we don’t know whether he does or not) The past subjunctive can be used similarly after as if / as though to indicate unreality or improbability or doubt in the present (there is no difference between as if and as though) He behaves as if he owned 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) He talks as though he knew where she was (but he doesn’t know or he probably doesn’t know or we don’t know whether he knows or not) He orders me about as if I were his wife (But I am not).
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I think the answers are in your post
Let’s look at your first sentence
From the report, it looked as if he played a crucial role in smuggling.
This is the subjunctive about the present.
From the report, it looked as if he played a
Let’s look at your first sentence
From the report, it looked as if he played a crucial role in smuggling.
This is the subjunctive about the present.
From the report, it looked as if he played a
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Hi Likeguslee ,
Thank you very much for your clean-cut explanation, but this question is befuddling me.:
1) it looks as though an agreement.....................yesterday between the two sides.
a)had been reached b)was reached
This question is from a test book and the suggested answe
Thank you very much for your clean-cut explanation, but this question is befuddling me.:
1) it looks as though an agreement.....................yesterday between the two sides.
a)had been reached b)was reached
This question is from a test book and the suggested answe
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This is the subjunctive about the past
After as if / as though we use Past Perfect when referring to a real or imaginary action in the past:
He talks about Ro
After as if / as though we use Past Perfect when referring to a real or imaginary action in the past:
He talks about Ro
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With all due respect, as though need not be followed by a subjunctive verb and therefore 'It looks as though an agreement was reached yesterday between the two sides' is correct. The 'was' is due to 'yesterday', which requires the past tense in this sentence.
Cf. It looks like/as if/as though it's going to rain.
No subjunctive mood in that sentence.
Chee
Cf. It looks like/as if/as though it's going to rain.
No subjunctive mood in that sentence.
Chee
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Thank you again Likeguslee, BTW, are you a native speaker of English? Your comment sounds logical to me.I 'm bogged down in the grammar mud:(
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The question here is what attitude, state of mind or intent did the speaker want to convey? In the given sentence, if you think the speaker meant to express doubt about the success of the negotiation, then the correct tense to use would be the past perfect to indicate an unreal sit
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1) it looks as though an agreement.....................yesterday between the two sides.
a)had been reached b)was reached
"B" was reached
. "The agreement may have been reached yesterday" could be sort of a restatement of this question. Correct me If I'm wrong.
a)had been reached b)was reached
"B" was reached
. "The agreement may have been reached yesterday" could be sort of a restatement of this question. Correct me If I'm wrong.
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In the first sentence, after "as if" (and after "it looked" which is the simple past too,) the simple past tense follows. The sentence means that in 50% he might have played a crucial role; in 50 % he might have not; we do not know;
In the second sentence after "as if" (and after "it looked" which is the past tense as well) the past perfect follows. The sentence means that he did not p
In the second sentence after "as if" (and after "it looked" which is the past tense as well) the past perfect follows. The sentence means that he did not p
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"In the second sentence after "as if" (and after "it looked" which is the past tense as well) the past perfect follows. The sentence means that he did not play any crucial role in smuggling and we are sure of it. It only looked so. It is not subjunctive here!"
....and we are sure of it. It is a stranbge statement. If we were sure why would we use AS IF?
....and we are sure of it. It is a stranbge statement. If we were sure why would we use AS IF?
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With all due respect, your cf "It looks like/as if/as though it's going to rain" offers up a real howler. You never use "like" before a verb: "it looks LIKE it's going to rain". This is plain wrong.
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