Pretend

[Allen165]

"I can't pretend that/like it never happened."

I realize that it would be best to leave out "that" or "like," but I'd still like to know if both are correct. I'm almost certain that "that" is but not so certain about "like."

Thanks!

 

[e2e4]

/A learner/

"I can't pretend that/like it never happened."

I realize that it would be best to leave out "that" or "like," but I'd still like to know if both are correct. I'm almost certain that "that" is but not so certain about "like."

Thanks!

I also wonder about it.

I think that the like wouldn't work but the as.

I can't pretend (that/as) it has never happened.

 

[Allen165]

/A learner/



I also wonder about it.

I think that the like wouldn't work but the as.

I can't pretend (that/as) it has never happened.

"As" would not be correct.

 

[Allen165]

Anyone?

Thanks!

 

[Koronas]

"I can't pretend that/like it never happened."

"That" is correct. "Like" is colloquial usage and best avoided. It is "street talk".

 

[Abstract Idea]

"I can't pretend that/like it never happened."

I realize that it would be best to leave out "that" or "like," but I'd still like to know if both are correct. I'm almost certain that "that" is but not so certain about "like."

Thanks!

I may be wrong, but my current opinion is the following:

"I can't pretend it never happened" is definitely correct.
"I can't pretend that it never happened" means the same and is also correct.

The comparison changes slightly the focus and should go somewhat along the lines:
"I can't pretend [[that] it is as though] as it never happened."
"I can't pretend [it is] as if it never happened."

I believe here the usage of "like" is not correct because it should function as a preposition and should be directly connected to a noun (the object of the preposition). On the other hand "as" is a conjunction. However, the usage of "like" in this way is spread out in colloquial English.

This is just a try, I am still studying, if anyone disagrees with me please let me know the reasons.

 

[Koronas]

That's a good explanation in my opinion (native English speaker and author - not a teacher).

 

[corum]

"I can't pretend that/like it never happened."

I realize that it would be best to leave out "that" or "like," but I'd still like to know if both are correct. I'm almost certain that "that" is but not so certain about "like."

Thanks!

I can pretend [something].
I can pretend [it never happened]. = SV[OC]; C = (never) happened = object complement
I can pretend [that it never happened]. = S(ubject)V(erb)O(bject) ≠ SVOC

I can pretend like it never happened =

 

[e2e4]

/A learner/

It's me again;-)

1. I can't pretend (that) it has not happened. (Once till now. When? We don't know exactly when and it doesn't matter when.)

2. I can't pretend (that) it didn't happen last month. (that time)

3. I can't pretend as if it never happened. (ever)

In my opinion these three forms are correct actually.
But they have different meanings.

In #1 "has not happened" is the present perfect tense and in my opinion only the present perfect should be used.

In #2 "didn't happen" is the simple past tense and in my opinion only the simple past tense should be used if the event happened in the definite past. (When? Last month)

In #3 "happened" is the past subjunctive and in my opinion only the past subjunctive should be used in combination with "as if/as though" to indicate current unreality or the unreality that can not be accepted.

 

[bhaisahab]

/A learner/

It's me again;-)

1. I can't pretend (that) it has not happened. (Once till now. When? We don't know exactly when and it doesn't matter when.)

2. I can't pretend (that) it didn't happen last month. (that time)

3. I can't pretend as if it never happened. (ever)

In my opinion these three forms are correct actually.
But they have different meanings.

In #1 "has not happened" is the present perfect tense and in my opinion only the present perfect should be used.

In #2 "didn't happen" is the simple past tense and in my opinion only the simple past tense should be used if the event happened in the definite past. (When? Last month)

In #3 "happened" is the past subjunctive and in my opinion only the past subjunctive should be used in combination with "as if/as though" to indicate current unreality or the unreality that can not be accepted.

In #1 "has not happened" is the present perfect tense and in my opinion only the present perfect should be used.

In #2 "didn't happen" is the simple past tense and in my opinion only the simple past tense should be used if the event happened in the definite past. (When? Last month)
1 and 2 are fine.
In #3 "happened" is the past subjunctive and in my opinion only the past subjunctive should be used in combination with "as if/as though" to indicate current unreality or the unreality that can not be accepted. "Happened" is the past and past participle of the regular verb "to happen". #3 doesn't work at all.

 

[e2e4]

In #3 "happened" is the past subjunctive and in my opinion only the past subjunctive should be used in combination with "as if/as though" to indicate current unreality or the unreality that can not be accepted. "Happened" is the past and past participle of the regular verb "to happen". #3 doesn't work at all.

I can't get what you mean.

Why this below doesn't work at all?

I can't pretend as if it never happened.

Or my explanation doesn't work at all.

Please explain.

Thanks

 

[bhaisahab]

I can't get what you mean.

Why this below doesn't work at all?

I can't pretend as if it never happened.

Or my explanation doesn't work at all.

Please explain.

Thanks

We don't "pretend as if", we "pretend that". Sometimes, in another sense, we "pretend to".

 

[Pokemon]

We don't "pretend as if", we "pretend that". Sometimes, in another sense, we "pretend to".

Excuse me for butting in, I was just passing by and heard your conversation. I think it's possible that you don't say 'pretend as if' because 'pretend' and 'as if' lexically are synonyms. They both mean 'to give an appearance of something that is not true'. Being very polite people, you don't want your co-speaker to think that you consider them dumb and incapable of understanding an idea unless it has been expressed twice.

 

[e2e4]

Can one say

I can't behave as if it never happened.
I can't behave as if nothing ever happened.

 

[bhaisahab]

Can one say

I can't behave as if it never happened.
I can't behave as if nothing ever happened.

Yes, you can.

 

[e2e4]

Is, in the sentence below, "happened" the past subjunctive form of the verb to happen; and not the simple past?

I can't behave as if nothing ever happened.

 

[Abstract Idea]

Regarding the difference between "as" and "like":

https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/130762-like.html