Like / As If
Appearances · as though · Unreal Past after as if — Complete Guide
Like / As If
Apparences · as though · Passé irréel après as if — Guide Complet
Use like or as if to describe how someone looks, sounds or feels. Learn when to use the past tense after as if for unreal situations.
Utilisez like ou as if pour décrire les apparences. Apprenez quand utiliser le passé après as if pour les situations irréelles.
We use like or as if (and as though) to describe how someone looks, sounds or feels. Like is followed by a noun; as if / as though by a subject + verb. Both are often interchangeable after perception verbs. When the situation is unreal or hypothetical, use the past tense after as if.
On utilise like ou as if (et as though) pour décrire les apparences. Like est suivi d’un nom ; as if / as though d’un sujet + verbe. Quand la situation est irréelle ou hypothétique, utilisez le passé après as if.
look / sound / feel — like or as if?
look / sound / feel — like ou as if ?
Use like or as if to say how somebody/something looks, sounds, feels, tastes or smells.
Utilisez like ou as if pour dire comment quelqu’un/quelque chose a l’air, semble, se sent, a le goût ou sent.
Amy sounded like she had a cold. or sounded as if she had a cold.
I don’t feel like I’ve had a holiday. or don’t feel as if I’ve had a holiday.
You can also say: I don’t feel as though I’ve had a holiday. (as though = as if) That house looks like it’s going to fall down. ou looks as if it’s going to fall down.
Amy sounded like she had a cold. ou sounded as if she had a cold.
I don’t feel like I’ve had a holiday. ou don’t feel as if I’ve had a holiday.
On peut aussi dire : I don’t feel as though I’ve had a holiday. (as though = as if)
look + adjective
look like / as if + S + V
It looks like … / It sounds like … (Impersonal)
It looks like … / It sounds like … (Impersonnel)
It looked like it was going to rain, so we took an umbrella.
The noise is very loud next door. It sounds like they’re having a party. or It sounds as if they’re having a party.
You can also say: It sounds as though they’re having a party. Sarah is very late. It looks like she isn’t coming. ou It looks as if she isn’t coming.
It looked like it was going to rain, so we took an umbrella.
The noise is very loud next door. It sounds like they’re having a party. ou It sounds as if they’re having a party.
like / as if / as though — Describing How Someone Does Something
like / as if / as though — Décrire Comment on Fait Quelque Chose
After the interruption, the speaker went on talking as if nothing had happened.
When I told them my plan, they looked at me as though I was mad. He ran like he was running for his life.
After the interruption, the speaker went on talking as if nothing had happened.
When I told them my plan, they looked at me as though I was mad.
as if + Past Tense — Unreal / Hypothetical Situations
as if + Passé — Situations Irréelles / Hypothétiques
After as if, use the past tense when the idea is not real.
Après as if, utilisez le passé quand l’idée n’est pas réelle.
She’s always asking me — as if I didn’t have enough to do already. (I DO have enough)
Joe’s only 40. Why talk about him as if he was an old man? (he isn’t) He talks as if he knew everything. (il ne sait PAS tout)
She’s always asking me — as if I didn’t have enough to do. (j’en ai déjà assez)
Joe’s only 40. Why talk about him as if he was an old man? (il n’est pas vieux)
Use the words in brackets to complete each sentence.
Utilisez les mots entre parenthèses pour compléter chaque phrase.
Make sentences with It looks like … or It sounds like …
Faites des phrases avec It looks like … ou It sounds like …
Choices: you should see a doctor · there’s been an accident · they’re having an argument · it’s going to rain · she isn’t coming · they don’t have any
Choix : you should see a doctor · there’s been an accident · they’re having an argument · it’s going to rain · she isn’t coming · they don’t have any
Complete with as if using the correct verb form.
Complétez avec as if en utilisant la bonne forme verbale.
Complete with as if + past tense (unreal situations).
Complétez avec as if + passé (situations irréelles).
Frequently Asked Questions — Like / As If
Questions fréquentes — Like / As If
After perception verbs (look, sound, feel, taste, smell), both mean the same. Like can be followed by a noun or subject+verb; as if/as though always needs subject+verb. In everyday speech both are freely interchangeable.
Après les verbes de perception, les deux ont le même sens. Like peut être suivi d’un nom ou sujet+verbe ; as if/as though nécessite toujours sujet+verbe.
The past tense signals that the situation is unreal or hypothetical. ✓ He talks as if he knew everything. (he doesn’t). Compare: He talks as if he knows something. (maybe he really does).
Le passé signale que la situation est irréelle ou hypothétique. ✓ He talks as if he knew everything. Comparez : He talks as if he knows something. (peut-être qu’il sait vraiment).
Yes, completely interchangeable in all contexts. Some feel as though is slightly more formal, but both are standard.
Oui, totalement interchangeables dans tous les contextes.
Both are correct. ✓ as if he were the boss (formal/traditional) · ✓ as if he was the boss (common in speech).
Les deux sont corrects. ✓ as if he were the boss (formel) · ✓ as if he was the boss (courant à l’oral).
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