as if / as though(まるで〜のように) As If: Talking About How Things Seem
仮定法 Conditionals & Subjunctive
as if(= as though)は「まるで〜のように」。中の時制で本気度が変わります。過去形なら「実際は違うのに」(He talks as if he knew everything.)、現在形なら「実際そうかもしれない」(It looks as if it's going to rain.)。仮定法の距離の原理が、ここでは「見え方」に使われます。
As if (same as as though) means "as though it were so" — and the tense inside sets the truth level. Past form: contrary to fact (He talks as if he knew everything). Present form: quite possibly true (It looks as if it's going to rain). The distance principle again, now measuring appearances.
中の時制が本気度を決める
The Tense Inside Sets the Truth Level
as if の中身が過去形なら、「本当は違う」というランプが点きます。He acts as if he owned the place.(まるで自分の店みたいに振る舞う——実際は違う)。現在形なら中立で、「そうかもしれない」寄り。It sounds as if they're having a party.(パーティーでもやってるみたいだ——たぶん本当にやっている)。同じ as if でも、時制ひとつで嘘か本当かの気配が変わるんです。
A past form inside as if lights the not-really lamp: He acts as if he owned the place — he doesn't. A present form stays neutral, leaning true: It sounds as if they're having a party — they probably are. Same as if, one tense apart, and the scent of truth changes completely.
嘘っぽい as if、本当っぽい as if The not-really and the probably-so
He talks as if he knew everything.
彼はまるで何でも知っているかのように話す。
過去形=実際は知らない、の含み。 Past form — and he doesn't, really.
It looks as if it's going to rain.
ひと雨きそうな空模様だ。
現在形=たぶん本当に降る。 Present form — it probably will.
She smiled as if nothing had happened.
彼女は何事もなかったかのように微笑んだ。
過去の場面より前を否定する as if + 過去完了。 As if + past perfect — denying what came before a past scene.
as if + 過去形
「実際は違う」寄り。芝居・見せかけの描写に。 Leaning contrary-to-fact — for acts and pretenses.
He spends money as if there were no tomorrow.
彼はまるで明日がないかのように金を使う。
as if + 現在形
「そうかもしれない」寄り。見立て・予感に。 Leaning probably-so — for readings and forecasts.
It seems as if the meeting is running late.
会議、長引いているみたいだね。
よくある間違い Common Mistake
He acts as if he is the boss.
彼はまるで上司気取りだ。(「実際は違うのに」を言いたいのに)
He acts as if he were the boss.
彼はまるで上司であるかのように振る舞う。
「本当は上司じゃないのに」という皮肉を効かせたいなら過去形(were)です。is だと「実際そうなのかも」と中立になって、皮肉がぼやけます。ただし口語では is で言う人も多く、その場合は文脈と口調が皮肉を補います。
To land the irony — he isn't the boss — you want the past form (were). With is, the sentence turns neutral and the irony blurs. That said, plenty of casual speakers use is and let tone carry the sarcasm.
- as if nothing had happened 何事もなかったかのように 物語・報道の定番。直前の騒動を否定する as if + 過去完了。 Narrative's favorite — as if + past perfect erasing the storm just past.
- It's not as if ... 別に〜というわけでもないし 相手の想定を柔らかく打ち消す口語。It's not as if I'm angry.(別に怒ってないよ) Gently cancels an assumption: It's not as if I'm angry.
- look as if / sound as if 〜しそうに見える/聞こえる 五感からの見立ての定番動詞ペア。 The go-to verbs for readings by eye and ear.
- As if! まさか!/ありえない! as if 文の頭だけの感嘆詞。若者言葉発の定着組。 The broken-off scoff — slang that earned tenure.
まとめ Summary
- as if + 過去形=実際は違う。+ 現在形=そうかもしれない。 As if + past = not really; + present = probably so.
- as though は同義。くだけた会話では like も使う。 As though is identical; casual speech allows like.
- 過去の場面のさらに前は as if + 過去完了。 Before a past scene: as if + past perfect.
- 単独の As if! =「ありえない!」。 Standalone As if! = "yeah, right!"