grammar · academic
As if / As though + clause
Band 5-6speakingtask2
Shows that something appears to be the case, sometimes unreal (use past/past perfect for hypothetical situations).
Examples
“He speaks as if he knew everything.”
“She looked as though she had seen a ghost.”
“As if / As though + clause”
Band 8 sentence
“She described the negotiations as if she had been present at every meeting, though she had only read the minutes.”
Common mistakes
He acts as if he is the boss.→He acts as if he were the boss.
She ran away as if she was afraid.→She ran away as if she were afraid.
Say it for a higher band
5like→6as→7+As if / As though + clause
Synonyms
like
Easily confused
As if / As though / Like
“He behaved as if he owned the place.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Complex sentences
Learn it with its set