As if and as though

As if and as though are conjunctions.

We use as if and as though to make comparisons. They have a similar meaning. We use as if and as though to talk about an imaginary situation or a situation that may not be true but that is likely or possible. As if is more common than as though:

The floods were rising and it was as if it was the end of the world.

It looks as if they’ve had a shock.

It looks as though you’ve not met before.

We can use both as if and as though followed by a non-finite clause or a prepositional phrase:

She moved her lips as if to smile.

They were shouting as though in panic.

As if and as though commonly follow the verbs feel and look:

She felt as if all her worries had gone.

They felt as though they had been given the wrong information.

I’ve got so much work it looks as if I’ll have to stay at home this evening.

In informal English, like can be used in a similar way to as if, though it is not always considered correct in formal contexts:

It felt like it could snow at any minute.