Like, As if, As Though

Like, As if, As Though

Hello English learners. Here is a grammar lesson. We will discuss how to use like, as if, as though. 

We use them to say how something looks, feels or sounds. So, you can say:

• It looks like it is going to be a sunny day.
• It looks as if it is going to be a sunny day.
• I feel like I’m going to get a cold.
• I feel as if I’m going to get a cold.
• You sound like you haven’t eaten today.
• You sound as if you haven’t eaten today.

You can use as though in the same way:

• It looks as though it is going to be a sunny day.
• I feel as though I’m going to get a cold.
• You sound as though you haven’t eaten today.

We can use like, as if and as though with verbs to say how someone does something:

• Look at those clouds. It looks like it’s going to rain.
• Look at those clouds. It looks as if it’s going to rain.
• Look at those clouds. It looks as though it’s going to rain.
• I’m not sure that David will join us at the party. He sounds like he doesn’t want to come.
• I’m not sure that David will join us at the party. He sounds as if he doesn’t want to come.
• I’m not sure that David will join us at the party. He sounds as though he doesn’t want to come.

“As if” with a past verb

We can use ‘as if’ with the past verb, as in the conditionals. The meaning of the sentence is present, not past.

• It was completely dry as if it hadn’t rained.
• Sara was laughing as if she would never stop.
• What’s going on with you? You look as if you’ve heard the bad news.

When you use ‘as if’ in the past, we normally use ‘were’ instead of ‘was’.

• John is so lazy. Don’t talk to him as if he were a good student.
• I recall meeting my husband as if it were yesterday.
• My nanny loved me as if I were her own child.

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