"look as if" 是一个常用的表语结构,意思是:看起来好像;似乎;仿佛。
用于根据视觉印象或表面现象,对某人/某事的状态、情况或结果做出推测(可能是真实的,也可能是虚拟的)。
"look as if" 通常引导表语从句(从句作系动词 "look" 的表语),说明“看起来”的具体内容。从句的时态和语气(陈述/虚拟)取决于推测的真实性:
如果推测的内容符合实际情况或很可能发生,从句用陈述语气,时态与主句一致或根据逻辑调整:
She looks as if she is tired after the long walk.(她走了很长路,看起来好像累了。——真实,确实可能累)
The sky looks as if it will rain soon.(天空看起来好像很快要下雨了。——真实,有下雨的迹象)
He looks as if he hasn't eaten all day.(他看起来好像一整天没吃东西了。——真实,可能真的没吃)
如果推测的内容不符合实际(或可能性极低),从句用虚拟语气,时态根据“与现在/过去相反”调整:
与现在相反:从句用一般过去时(be动词统一用 "were");
例:He looks as if he were a movie star, but he's just a student.(他看起来好像电影明星,但其实是学生。——与现在事实相反)
与过去相反:从句用过去完成时;
例:She looks as if she had cried for hours.(她看起来好像哭了几个小时。——与过去事实相反,其实没哭那么久)
"as if" 可替换为 "as though",意思完全相同(更正式);
例:It looks as though we'll be late.(我们看起来好像要迟到了。)
区分 "look as if" 与 "look like":
look like:后接名词/代词(指“看起来像……(人/物)”);
例:She looks like her mother.(她看起来像她妈妈。)
look as if:后接从句(指“看起来好像……(情况/动作)”);
例:She looks as if she misses her mother.(她看起来好像想念妈妈。)
1、 真实推测:
The cake looks as if it tastes delicious.(这蛋糕看起来好像很好吃。)
He looks as if he knows the answer.(他看起来好像知道答案。)
2、 虚拟推测:
She's wearing a coat in summer; she looks as if she were cold.(她夏天穿外套,看起来好像冷——其实不冷)
The room looks as if it hadn't been cleaned for weeks.(房间看起来好像几周没打扫——其实刚打扫过)
总结:"look as if" 是描述“视觉印象”的核心短语,关键是根据推测的真实性选择从句的语气(陈述/虚拟),结合例子练习更容易掌握~