talks as though he knows/knew

[Tan Elaine]

1. He talks as though he knows a lot.

2. He talks as though he knew a lot.

Could somebody please tell me the difference in meaning between the two sentences? Or is one of them grammatically wrong?

Thanks in advance.

 

[e2e4]

/A learner/

1. He talks as though he knows a lot.

2. He talks as though he knew a lot.

Could somebody please tell me the difference in meaning between the two sentences? Or is one of them grammatically wrong?

Thanks in advance.

#2 is correct.
The combination as though and the past subjunctive form is used to indicate unreality.

2. He talks as though he knew a lot.

It means

He's scarcely of those ones.

 

[buggles]

1. He talks as though he knows a lot.:tick:

2. He talks as though he knew a lot.:cross:

Could somebody please tell me the difference in meaning between the two sentences? Or is one of them grammatically wrong?

Thanks in advance.

#2 is incorrect as the sentence contains mixed tenses.

#1 uses "talks" and " knows" - both present tense, so OK.

#2 would make sense if we match the tenses - " He talked as though he knew a lot". - both past tense, so now OK.


buggles (not a teacher)

Just spotted e2e4's response and I have to disagree - maybe a moderator will chip in.

 

[bhaisahab]

/A learner/



He's scarcely of those ones.

What does this mean?

 

[bhaisahab]

/A learner/


#2 is correct.
The combination as though and the past subjunctive form is used to indicate unreality.

.

Not at all.

 

[e2e4]

/A learner/

Not at all.

At all?

He talked as if he had known a lot.

The same but in the past.

 

[bhaisahab]

/A learner/



At all?

He talked as if he had known a lot.

The same but in the past.

The OP didn't ask about "He talked as if he had known a lot."

 

[e2e4]

The OP didn't ask about "He talked as if he had known a lot."

You talk as if you weren't a teacher. I don't understand.

 

[bhaisahab]

You talk as if you weren't a teacher. I don't understand.

1. He talks as though he knows a lot.

2. He talks as though he knew a lot.

These were the two sentences which the OP asked about. buggles said that #1 was correct and that #2 was incorrect. I agree with her/him, "He talks as if he knows a lot" is correct, as is "He talked as if he knew a lot".

 

[e2e4]

/A learner/

1. He talks as though he knows a lot.

2. He talks as though he knew a lot.

These were the two sentences which the OP asked about. buggles said that #1 was correct and that #2 was incorrect. I agree with her/him, "He talks as if he knows a lot" is correct, as is "He talked as if he knew a lot".

He talks the way he knows a lot.
He talks as if he knew a lot.

 

[Barb_D]

buggles said that #1 was correct and that #2 was incorrect. I agree with her/him, "He talks as if he knows a lot" is correct, as is "He talked as if he knew a lot".

And I agree with the two of you as well.

 

[peter123]

Hi there,

Would these explanations be possible?

He talks as if/though he knows a lot. (Perhaps he knows.)
He talks as if/though he knew a lot. (But he does not.)
He talked as if/though he knew a lot. (a past unreal comparison)

Pete

 

[Tan Elaine]

Hi there,

Would these explanations be possible?

He talks as if/though he knows a lot. (Perhaps he knows.)
He talks as if/though he knew a lot. (But he does not.)
He talked as if/though he knew a lot. (a past unreal comparison)

Pete

This is what I have read from a grammar book. I wonder whether native speakers observe the distinction.

 

[lauralie2]

Hi there,

Would these explanations be possible?

He talks as if/though he knows a lot. (Perhaps he knows.)
He talks as if/though he knew a lot. (But he does not.)
He talked as if/though he knew a lot. (a past unreal comparison)

Pete

I like your explanation, and I have heard native speakers use the second construct.

 

[Barb_D]

Why is #3 unreal?

A: What did the repairman say?
B: He said we had to replace the uppidyclutch.
A: That's expensive. Do you trust him?
B: Well, the talked as though he knew a lot, so ... yeah.