寫英文遇到 as if,下一秒就開始糾結——到底後面要用過去式還是現在式?為什麼有時候看到 “as if he were”,有時候又是 “as if he is”?其實 as if 用法只有一個邏輯:你說的事情是真的,還是假的。搞清楚這個,時態自然就選對了。
As if 中文是什麼?跟 As though 一樣嗎?
As if 和 as though 中文都是「好像、彷彿、就像是」,意思幾乎完全一樣,可以互換。要說差別,就是 as if 更口語、日常更常用;as though 聽起來稍微正式一點點,但在一般對話裡兩個都 OK。不需要兩個都背,記住 as if 就夠用了。
(1)
A: Why is he acting so weird today?
A: 他今天為什麼這麼奇怪?
B: No idea. He’s acting as if something really bad happened.
B: 不知道,他表現得好像發生了什麼很糟的事。
(2)
A: She talks as though she’s been to every country in the world.
A: 她說話的樣子好像她去過全世界每個國家一樣。
B: I know, right? She’s only been to three places.
B: 對啊,她其實只去過三個地方。
As if 用法一:說的是假的(虛擬現在)
這是 as if 最常見的用法 — 你說的事情根本不是真的,只是在描述「感覺像是這樣」。As if 用法在這種情況下,後面要用過去式,be 動詞用 were(不管主詞是什麼)。
口語裡用 was 也很常見,但正式寫作建議用 were。
結構:主詞 + 動詞 + as if + 過去式
(3)
A: Look at how he’s spending money.
A: 你看他花錢的方式。
B: I know. He acts as if he were a millionaire, but he’s in debt.
B: 對,他花錢花得好像自己是百萬富翁,但他其實在負債。
(4)
A: She didn’t even look at me when I walked in.
A: 我走進去的時候她連看都沒看我一眼。
B: She’s been treating you as if you didn’t exist. That’s not okay.
B: 她一直把你當作不存在一樣對待,這樣不對。
(5)
A: Did you see how he talked to the intern?
A: 你有看到他跟實習生說話的方式嗎?
B: Yeah, he talked to her as if she were a child. It was painful to watch.
B: 有,他跟她說話的語氣好像在對小孩說話,看了很不舒服。
(6)
A: He walked into the meeting room as if he owned the place.
A: 他走進會議室的樣子好像整個地方都是他的。
B: He does that everywhere. Classic him.
B: 他到哪都這樣,太典型了。
As if 用法二:說的可能是真的(真實語氣)
這個用法很多人不知道 — 如果你說的事情「可能是真的」,as if 後面就用現在式,不需要虛擬語氣。
關鍵問題:這件事真的發生了,還是完全是假的?如果有可能是真的,就用現在式。
(7)
A: It looks as if it’s going to rain soon.
A: 看起來好像快下雨了。
B: Yeah, we should head back.
B: 對,我們應該回去了。(快下雨是有可能是真的,所以用 is going to,現在式)
(8)
A: He looks as if he hasn’t slept in days.
A: 他看起來好像好幾天沒睡了。
B: He told me he’s been pulling all-nighters for the project.
B: 他跟我說他為了那個專案一直在熬夜。(可能真的沒睡,所以用 hasn’t,現在完成式)
(9)
A: She sounds as if she’s been crying.
A: 她聽起來好像哭過了。
B: I noticed that too. Should we ask if she’s okay?
B: 我也注意到了,我們要不要問她還好嗎?
(10)
A: Does this taste as if it’s gone bad?
A: 這個吃起來像壞掉了嗎?
B: A little. I wouldn’t risk it.
B: 有一點,我不會冒這個險。
As if 用法三:說的是過去的假設(虛擬過去)
如果你要說的是「那件事在過去也不是真的」,就用過去完成式 had + p.p.。
這個用法比前兩個少見,但讀文章或聽英文時很可能遇到。
結構:as if + had + p.p.
跟 If 條件句的第三種假設語氣邏輯一樣——說的是「當時根本不是這樣,但假裝是」。
(11)
A: She talked about the project as if she had done all the work herself.
A: 她談到那個專案的方式好像整個都是她一個人做的。
B: But she barely contributed anything.
B: 但她幾乎沒有貢獻什麼。
(12)
A: He walked into the party as if nothing had happened between them.
A: 他走進派對的樣子好像他們之間什麼事都沒發生過。
B: After everything that went down last month? That’s bold.
B: 上個月那些事之後還這樣?夠大膽的。
(13)
A: She spoke as if she had personally invented the internet.
A: 她說話的樣子好像網路是她發明的。
B: That was quite a presentation.
B: 那個簡報真的很有意思。
(14)
A: He acted as if he had never met me before, even though we’ve worked together for two years.
A: 他表現得好像以前從來沒見過我,但我們已經共事兩年了。
B: That’s super awkward. Did you say anything?
B: 這也太尷尬了吧,你有說什麼嗎?
最容易搞錯的三個地方
錯誤 1:可能是真的情況用了過去式
✘ It looks as if it rained.(好像下過雨——你是觀察到可能下過雨,不是假設)
✔ It looks as if it has rained.(現在完成式,可能是真的)
(15)
A: The ground is wet. It looks as if it has been raining.
A: 地板是濕的,看起來像是剛下過雨。
B: Yeah, it stopped like an hour ago.
B: 對,大概一小時前停的。
錯誤 2:be 動詞假設語氣用 was
口語 was 是可以接受的,但正式場合(寫作、考試)盡量用 were。
✘ She treats me as if I was invisible.(口語可,但不夠標準)
✔ She treats me as if I were invisible.
(16)
A: He talks to customers as if they were an inconvenience.
A: 他跟客人說話的方式好像他們是在麻煩他。
B: Someone needs to give him some customer service training.
B: 有人需要給他上一下客服培訓課了。
錯誤 3:as if 跟 even if 搞混
As if 說「好像是」,even if 說「就算是」——意思完全不一樣。
✘ He kept going as if he was tired.(錯誤用法,這裡應該用 even if)
✔ He kept going even if he was tired.(就算他累了也繼續)
✔ He kept going as if he weren’t tired at all.(好像一點都不累一樣,繼續走)
(17)
A: She studies every weekend, even if she has plans.
A: 她每個週末都讀書,就算有安排也是。
B: That’s dedication.
B: 這很有毅力。
A: I know. She studies as if there’s a final exam every Monday.
A: 對,她讀書的樣子好像每週一都有期末考。
記住一個問題就夠了:**你說的這件事,是真的還是假的?**
真的 → 現在式;假的(現在)→ 過去式;假的(過去)→ 過去完成式。
下次遇到 as if,先問自己這個問題,時態就不會猜錯了。
延伸閱讀:【“Wish”, “If only”, “Would rather” 的意思和用法】
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