[title]Family quotes[/title] [description]Welcome to our family quotes section! Here you'll find some of the funniest (and wisest) quotes on the subject of family life![/description]
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As if

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Latest post Sun, Oct 12 2008 5:16 AM by richard_s. 2 replies.
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Diamondrg  +  575528 Sat, 11 Oct 08 08:31 PM
1) She treats them as if they are her parents.
2) She treats them as if they were her parents.
3) She treats them as if they had been her parents.

a) She treated them as if they were her parents.
b) She treated them as if they had been her parents.

Well, I think only in 1 and 2 we are sure that they are her parents, but I wonder whether a can have the combined meaning of 1 and 2, that is, "they are her parents, or they are not her parents, or we do not know whether they are her parents or not.)

In the others either we do not know whether they are her parents or not or we think they are not her parents, but we do not think they are her parents. Then, what is the difference between 2 and 3 and a and b? Thanks.
Diamondrg
Joined on Fri, Dec 2 2005
Contributing Member 1,043
Fandorin  +  575545 Sat, 11 Oct 08 09:32 PM

Hi, Diamondrg.
Diamondrg
“
1) She treats them as if they are her parents. We don't know exactly the truth.
2) She treats them as if they were her parents. They are not her parents. "If...were is used in the Second Conditional."
3) She treats them as if they had been her parents. It sounds odd.

a) She treated them as if they were her parents. We don't know.
b) She treated them as if they had been her parents. It also sounds odd.

Well, I think only in 1 and 2 we are sure that they are her parents, but I wonder whether a can have the combined meaning of 1 and 2, that is, "they are her parents, or they are not her parents, or we do not know whether they are her parents or not.)

In the others either we do not know whether they are her parents or not or we think they are not her parents, but we do not think they are her parents. Then, what is the difference between 2 and 3 and a and b? Thanks.
”
Fandorin
Joined on Thu, Dec 20 2007
Moscow
Contributing Member 1,386
Whatever happens, be yourself.
Related discussions
richard_s  +  575619 Sun, 12 Oct 08 05:16 AM
When speaking very properly, 'as if' should be followed by the subjunctive 'were' (I.e. the second conditional).  Most people, however, use a finite verb instead (i.e. 'are').
richard_s
Joined on Sun, Oct 5 2008
Junior Member 65
Richard Stevenson IELI, Sturt Campus Flinders University, South Australia
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