as if - as though

as if / though + subject + present /past verb

as if / though + subject +past verb with present meaning

1. As if and as though mean the same .
We use them to say what a situation seems like.

• It looks as if/ though it's going to rain


• I felt as if/ though I was dying

2. We can use a past tense with a present meaning after as it/though.
This means that the idea is unreal.

• He looks as if he's rich (perhaps he is rich)


• She talks as if she was rich (but she isn't)

We can use were instead of was when we express unreal ideas after as it/ though.
This is common in a formal style.

• She talks as if she were rich.

3.  Like is often used instead of as if/ though , especially in American English
This is very informal.

• It looks like it's going to rain