一、基本用法
以as if (as though)引导的方式状语从句或表语从句,有时用虚拟语气,若表示与现在事实相反,谓语动词用一般过去时;若表示与过去事实相反,用过去完成时;表示将来的可能性不大,用would (might, could)+动词原形:
He acts as if he knew me. 他显得认识我似的。
They treat me as though I were a stranger. 他们待我如陌生人。
He talks as if he had been abroad. 他说起话来好像曾经出过国。
二、两点说明
(1) 从句所表示的内容若为事实或可能为事实,也可用陈述语气:
It looks as if we’ll be late. 我们似乎要迟到了。
This meat tastes as if it has already gone bad. 这肉吃起来似乎已经坏了。
在现代英语中,有时即使从句内容不是事实,也可能用陈述语气:
I feel as if [as though] I’m floating on air. 他感到好像漂浮在空中。
The stuffed dog barked as if it is [were, was] a real one. 玩具狗叫起来像真狗。
(2) 注意 It isn’t as if…的翻译:
It isn’t as if he were poor. 他不像穷的样子(或他又不穷)。
It isn’t as if you were going away for good. 又不是你离开不回来了。