As If / As Though Quiz
10 multiple-choice questions on real and hypothetical comparisons with as if / as though, the unreal past, and the formal subjunctive "as if I were."
This quiz checks how confidently you can apply as if / as though at B2-C1 level, with questions built around real tense choices — knew, hadn't heard, was, were — rather than abstract rule statements. Each question presents a full example sentence, so you have to judge whether the comparison is real and likely or hypothetical and unreal before choosing the correct tense. Read the full As If / As Though grammar guide first if you need a refresher.
If a question catches you out, the FAQ section below explains the underlying rule in more detail, including why "as if" sometimes needs the unreal past even for present situations. Reviewing the explanation immediately after an incorrect answer, then retrying the quiz on a different day, builds more durable grammar knowledge than repeating the same 10 questions back to back.
As If / As Though — FAQ
What is the difference between "as if" and "as though"?
There is virtually no difference in meaning — both introduce a clause comparing a situation to something real or imagined, and both follow the same tense rules. "As though" tends to sound slightly more formal or literary, especially in British English, but the two are interchangeable in almost every sentence: "It looks as if it's going to rain" and "It looks as though it's going to rain" mean exactly the same thing.
When do I use a normal tense after "as if"?
Use a normal present or past tense when the comparison is plausible or likely to be true. For example, "She sounds as if she's from Scotland" uses the ordinary present tense because it's a genuine guess about a real possibility. Similarly, "He acted as if he was tired" is fine with a simple past tense if he probably really was tired.
Why does "as if" sometimes use the past tense for present situations?
When the comparison is clearly false, imagined, or contrary to fact, English shifts one step into the past to signal unreality — the same "unreal past" pattern used after "wish" and in second conditionals. For example, "He talks as if he knew everything" uses "knew" (not "knows") because he clearly does not know everything; the past tense here marks the idea as untrue, not as referring to past time.
When should I use the past perfect after "as if"?
Use the past perfect when the false or imagined comparison refers to a past event rather than a present one. For example, "She acted as if she hadn't heard the news" (but she had heard it) uses the past perfect "hadn't heard" because the unreality is located in the past, one step further back than a simple past unreal comparison.
Is "as if I were" or "as if I was" correct?
Both are used, but they differ in register. "As if I were" uses the formal subjunctive mood, traditionally considered more correct and common in careful writing, exams, and formal speech: "He treats me as if I were a child." "As if I was" is extremely common in everyday spoken English and widely accepted informally, even though some style guides still prefer "were" with "as if" and "as though."
What does "as if!" mean as a standalone expression?
Used alone as an exclamation, "As if!" expresses strong disbelief or a flat rejection of an idea, roughly meaning "no way" or "that's ridiculous, it will never happen." For example, if someone suggests "Maybe he'll apologise," the reply "As if!" dismisses the idea as very unlikely. This use is informal and spoken, and is different from "as if" used to start a comparison clause.
What is the difference between "as if" and "like" as a comparison word?
"As if" and "as though" introduce a full clause with a subject and a verb: "He acted as if he was tired." "Like" is a preposition here and is followed by a noun phrase, not a clause: "He acted like a tired man." Using "like" directly before a clause ("He acted like he was tired") is very common in informal speech, but is generally avoided in formal writing in favour of "as if" or "as though."
Can "as if" be used with any tense, including future forms?
Yes, in principle any tense that fits the real time reference can follow "as if" for a real, plausible comparison, including present continuous, present perfect, or forms referring to the near future ("It looks as if it's about to start"). The key rule to remember is that the tense choice depends on whether the comparison is real/likely (use a normal tense) or false/imagined (shift into the unreal past).
How can I tell whether a comparison after "as if" is real or hypothetical?
Ask yourself whether the situation described could genuinely be true, based on context. If it's a reasonable guess or plausible explanation ("She sounds as if she's from Scotland" — she might really be), use a normal tense. If you already know the comparison is false or exaggerated ("He spends money as if he were a millionaire" — he isn't one), shift to the unreal past or use "were."
At what level are "as if" and "as though" typically taught?
The basic real-comparison use of "as if" and "as though" is often introduced around B1/B2 level, but the full hypothetical unreal-past pattern, including the formal subjunctive "as if I were," is typically taught at B2/C1 level, since it depends on learners already being comfortable with unreal past forms from conditionals and "wish" sentences.