as if

Which do you think is correct?

When I accidentally broke Mr. Parker's antique Chinese vase, I felt as if I ____ a criminal.

A) am being
B) have been
C) am being
D) were
E) had been

I find the subjunctive quite uncomfortable, here. I would say "was".

MrP

Hello Drg

To answer question 3 first:

a) The time of the imaginary criminality coincides with the time of the "feeling". For example: I found a £20 note in the road; I put it in my pocket, instead of taking it to the police station. "I felt [at the moment of putting the £20 note in my pocket] as if I were a criminal."

b) The time of the imaginary criminality precedes the "feeling". For example: I found a £20 note in the road; I put it in my pocket without a second thought. Later, while I was buying my friends a drink with the £20 note, it occurred to me that I should have taken it to the police station. "I felt [at the moment of buying the drink] as if I had been a criminal [when I put the banknote in my pocket, instead of taking it to the police station]."

Does that answer your question 2 as well?

I'll come back later for your "was/were" question, when I've thought about it a little. (Or perhaps another member will have something to say, in the meantime.)

MrP

Thank you, Diamond! "Topnotch" is a good word.

I myself use was/were with "as if" as follows:

1. He looked as if he was about to cry.

— describing the appearance of someone in the past.

2. He looks as if he were about to cry.

— describing the appearance of someone now; subjunctive "were", so I don't really think he's about to cry. I might be describing a miserable-looking colleague, for instance. Cf.

3. He looks as if he's about to cry.

— again, describing the appearance of someone now; but this time, I do think he's about to cry. I might be describing a baby, for instance.

Additionally, some people use the subjunctive for unreal events in the past:

4. He looked as if he were about to cry.

I think this is more common in American English; as a BrE-speaker, I'm not very comfortable with it. (So I wouldn't score very high marks in the test you mentioned.) 

See you,

MrP

I will try to write some questions. I would appreciate any advisory comment on them.

1- She looked as if she ---- crying; in fact, I was able to see a few tears dripping down her cheek.

A) was

B) were

C) had been

B is not possible as it suggests that what she was doing was all just make-believe. To me, A, which gives the description of her appearance in the past, is correct. When it comes to C, well, it seems to be correct too. Crying continues when I notice the tears. any comments?

2- She tried to look as if she ---- crying but a few tears dripping down her cheek betrayed her.

A) wasn't

B) weren't

C) hadn't been

I think A and C are correct.

3- He continued to treat patients for years as if he ---- a doctor till he was proved to be an impostor. 

A) was

B) were

D) had been

To me, A is correct.