Usage note 39 on page 201

1. 39. Usage Note on Page
201: As If and As Though

2. We can use as if and as though to compare a real situation (in
the present or the past) to something unreal or imaginary.
PRESENT REAL SITUATION
COMPARED TO SOMETHING
UNREAL
PAST REAL SITUATION COMPARED
TO SOMETHING UNREAL
He feels as though he were a
character in a book. (He is not a
character in a book)
She acted as if nothing had
happened. (Something did happen.)
She speaks Mandarin as if she were
born in China. (She was not born in
China.)
He acted as if he were the president
president of the company. (He was
not the president of the company.)