[Grammar] as if

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Katy Choi

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I'm not a teacher..;:roll: ;



anyway, these days I've studied about 'as if.'

however, I can find only little information about it .

I just have several questions.

1. 'as if' can be used at the beginning of the sentence? (especially, in the conditional sentence)

like 'as if she knew everything, she acts.'

is it possible to use?

2. I've thought 'as if clause' is an adverbial clause. then, it should be used after

(or before?? if first question can be revealed to be okay)

a perfect sentence? I mean, the sentence that is needless to be added to 'clause or something else.'

3. after 'as if' (as it is for a conditional sentence) can I use would/ is doing(for future tense) / might/ will ?

in indicative sentences, I think, it is possible, am I right?

please :cry: let me know in future tense, how I can use 'as if' , deviding it into two moods( indicative & subjunctive).

and please give me some examples of each of them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

plz ㅠㅠ
 

Raymott

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I'm not a teacher..;:roll: ;



anyway, these days I've studied about 'as if.'

however, I can find only little information about it .

I just have several questions.

1. 'as if' can be used at the beginning of the sentence? (especially, in the conditional sentence)
"As if" generally does not begin a sentence.
However, you will hear it used colloquially either by itself, or to introduce a partial sentence, as a reply.

A: "John said that you are not very clever."
B: "As if he'd know!" This means "He says it as if he would know. But he obviously doesn't".


like 'as if she knew everything, she acts.'

is it possible to use?
No. You must say, "She acts as if she knows everything."

2. I've thought 'as if clause' is an adverbial clause. then, it should be used after

(or before?? if first question can be revealed to be okay) No, it's not OK.
a perfect sentence? I mean, the sentence that is needless to be added to 'clause or something else.'
Sorry, I don't quite understand this.


3. after 'as if' (as it is for a conditional sentence) can I use would/ is doing(for future tense) / might/ will ?

in indicative sentences, I think, it is possible, am I right?
I'm not sure. Could you write a sentence as an example of what you mean?

please :cry: let me know in future tense, how I can use 'as if' , deviding it into two moods( indicative & subjunctive).
"He's going to join the army (future), as if he had (subj) the strength or agressiveness to do that!"

and please give me some examples of each of them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

plz ㅠㅠ
In some cases, you can start a proper sentence with "as if".
"As if he were Superman, he dashed into the burning building to save the dog."
 

Katy Choi

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At first, I really appreciate your comment. ^^

uhm.. in the second question, that I wanted to know was whether I should say

an incomplete sentence or complete sentence when I use 'as if clause.'

well,, (sorry, I wish I could use English better..) for example,

I was singing when he came in. in this sentence, 'I was singing' is complete sentence

without 'when he came in,' right?

so when I use 'as if clause' , can I use it with complete sentence?

That was the point. :D

at the third one,,

in indicative sentences, I think, it is possible, am I right?
I'm not sure. Could you write a sentence as an example of what you mean?


The sky is dark and cloudy as if it is going to rain. < is it right?

Carry says(or said) as if it were going to rain. < I tried to make a subjunctive sentence.

is it ok?
 

Raymott

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At first, I really appreciate your comment. ^^
Thank you
============================
uhm.. in the second question, that I wanted to know was whether I should say

an incomplete sentence or complete sentence when I use 'as if clause.'
You should say a complete sentence, as usual.
=======================================

well,, (sorry, I wish I could use English better..)
Me too. It's difficult to know when you have finished making a point, and are starting a new one. I can only respond to what I see. I don't think it's just your English skills. You could possibly set out your questions in discrete numbered paragraphs, with one understandable question in each. Using conventional punctuation might also help.

for example (of what?),

I was singing when he came in. in this sentence, 'I was singing' is complete sentence

without 'when he came in,' right? Yes, "I was singing" is a complete sentence.

so when I use 'as if clause' , can I use it with complete sentence?
You should use it with a complete sentence, (but I don't think this follows from the immediately preceding lines), and I'm not sure how the "example" relates to this, or what you are implying by your use of "so".

That was the point. :D
It could be clearer.
===================================================

at the third one,,

in indicative sentences, I think, it is possible, am I right?
I'm not sure. Could you write a sentence as an example of what you mean?

The sky is dark and cloudy as if it is going to rain. < is it right? Yes.

"Carry says(or said) as if it were going to rain." < I tried to make a subjunctive sentence.
I'm going to put a quote around this sentence - that's the only way I can understand it. Now, I understand that you are asking me if "Carry says as if it were going to rain" is a subjunctive sentence. No, it's not grammatical.
is it ok?
"As if it were going to rain" is an acceptable subjunctive clause, but you've set it in an otherwise ungrammatical sentence.
"Carry rushed around taking the clothes off the line, and closing all the windows, as if it were going to rain." is an acceptable sentence using that clause subjunctively.
 

5jj

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If you have further questions, Katy, please do as raymott suggested: You could possibly set out your questions in discrete numbered paragraphs, with one understandable question in each.
 

Katy Choi

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Thank you so much, raymott:) ! your comments and advices are really helpful for me!
 
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