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[puzzle]

Dear teachers,
Can you help me with �as if� in subjunctive mood?
Here is the exercise:
Mother has been busy packing my belongings, making sure I have everything I need. It feels as if she ____ to college with me.
A. were going B. would go
I know �A� is better, but how to exclude �B�?
And �they talked and talked as if they would never meet�, why here use �Would�?
Thank you!

[rice07]

Hi

1. meaning

As if and as though are both used to say what a situation seems like. They can refer to something that we think may be true.

- It sounds as if / though John's going to change his job.

They can also be used to talk about things which we know are not true.

- I feel as if / though I'm dying.

2. tenses

When we talk about things which we know are not true, we can use a past tense with a present meaning after as if / though. This emphasises the meaning of unreality. Compare:

- She looks as if she is rich. (Perhaps she is.)

- He talks as if he was rich. ( But he is definitely not.)

In a formal style, were can be used instead of was in an ' unreal ' comparison. This is common in American English.

- He talks as if he were rich.

3. after conjuctions, instead of would

In most subordinate clauses (e.g. after if, supposing,wherever,what), we use past tenses(and not would...) to express 'unreal' or conditional ideas.

- If I had the money now I'd buy a car.

- If you caught the ten o'clock train tomorrow you would be in Edinburgh by supper-time, unless the train was delayed, of course.

- You look as if you were just about to scream.

- Supposing we didn't go on holiday next year?

- Would you follow me wherever I went?

- In a perfect world, you would be able to say exactly what you thought.

- Ten o'clock- it's time (that) you went home.

- Don't come and see me today- I'd rather (that) you came tomorrow.

- I wish (that) I had a better memory.


4. Like is often used in the same way as as if/though, especially in an informal style. This used to be typically AmE, but it is now common in BrE.

- It seems like it's going to rain.

The above is an excerpt from Practical English Usage.


Your examples:

1... It feels as if she were going to college with me.(correct)

2.They talked and talked as if they would never meet.

=>According to the above, perhaps the correct answer sould be "... as if they were never to meet again. "
Or, "They talked and talked." "As if they would never meet."

Another example:

" I recon Ken's deliberately ignoring us." " As if he would" (= he would not ignore us)

Hope it helps!