As if is used to describe how something seems, by comparing it with another situation. After look, sound, feel and seem, it describes an impression: It looks as if it's going to rain. If the comparison is clearly not true, a past tense often follows as if: He talks as if he knew everything, although in reality he doesn't.
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look/sound/feel/seem + as if + clause; verb + as if + past simple (not true); As if! (spoken reply)
- Many graduates feel as if their degree has not prepared them for real work.
- The sky looks as if it's going to rain, so take an umbrella.
- My grandmother remembers her first day at school as if it were yesterday.
What changed
First versionHe talks about Paris like if he had lived there for years.
RevisionHe talks about Paris as if he had lived there for years.
Learners sometimes put together like, which is used for comparisons, and if, which is used for imaginary situations, and get like if. But English has no such combination: the whole idea is expressed by as if. In conversation, you can also say just like: He talks like he lived there. But like if is wrong in both speech and writing.
As though means the same: She looked as though she hadn't slept. On its own, the reply As if! means “No way!” or “In your dreams!”: Tom thinks I'll lend him my car. As if! It sounds mocking and slangy, so it doesn't belong in an essay or a job interview.
Your turn
You look ___ you haven't slept for a week.
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as if — The sentence describes an impression: judging by the person's face, they haven't slept for a long time. After look, an impression like this is introduced by as if. As on its own can't introduce a clause with this meaning.
Describe how someone in your family or someone you know looked after an exam, a holiday or a move. Use look + as if.
After his final exam, my brother looked as if he had just run a marathon.
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