English grammar
As if + past perfect; protests: anyone would think…!, it's not as if…!
Compare with an unreal past using as if + past perfect, and protest with anyone would think…!.
From the scene As if no time had passed
In short
As if + past perfect pretends about the past. Protest with anyone would think + past simple or it's not as if…
Your turn
Which one goes with the same, in the negative?
Options: we talk as if we'd seen each other yesterday · anyone would think you were twenty! · as if sixty years hadn't gone by
Show answer
the same, in the negative → as if sixty years hadn't gone by
How it works
As if + past simple pretends about the present; as if + past perfect pretends about the past: as if we'd seen each other yesterday.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
We talk as if (blank) seen each other only yesterday.
Options: we'd · we've · we
Show answer
We talk as if we'd seen each other only yesterday.
Hablamos como si nos hubiéramos visto ayer mismo.
Good to know
To protest that someone is behaving strangely, say anyone would think + past simple (anyone would think you were twenty!) or it's not as if + clause (it's not as if we're robbing a bank!).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
And Grandma's put on heels! Anyone would (blank) she was a young girl!
Options: thinking · think · thought
Show answer
And Grandma's put on heels! Anyone would think she was a young girl!
¡Y la abuela se puso tacones! ¡Ni que fuera una niña!
pretending about the past we talk as if we'd seen each other yesterday
the same, in the negative as if sixty years hadn't gone by
Your turn
What goes with as if sixty years hadn't gone by?
Options: the same, in the negative · pretending about the past · protest: you're acting like…
Show answer
as if sixty years hadn't gone by → the same, in the negative
protest: you're acting like… anyone would think you were twenty!
Javi
Partying? Anyone would think you were twenty!
¿De rumba? ¡Ni que tuvieran veinte años!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Partying? (blank)!
Options: As if sixty years hadn't gone by · Anyone would think you were twenty · We talk as if we'd seen each other yesterday
Show answer
Javi
Partying? Anyone would think you were twenty!
¿De rumba? ¡Ni que tuvieran veinte años!
protest: it's no big deal it's not as if we're robbing a bank!
Your turn
What goes with it's not as if we're robbing a bank!?
Options: the same, in the negative · protest: it's no big deal · pretending about the past
Show answer
it's not as if we're robbing a bank! → protest: it's no big deal
protest: you're not my father anyone would think you were my father!
Elena
When we feel like it. Anyone would think you were my father!
Cuando nos dé la gana. ¡Ni que fueras mi padre!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
When we feel like it. (blank)!
Options: We talk as if we'd seen each other yesterday · As if sixty years hadn't gone by · Anyone would think you were my father
Show answer
Elena
When we feel like it. Anyone would think you were my father!
Cuando nos dé la gana. ¡Ni que fueras mi padre!
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| pretending about the past | we talk as if we'd seen each other yesterday |
|---|---|
| the same, in the negative | as if sixty years hadn't gone by |
| protest: you're acting like… | anyone would think you were twenty! |
| protest: it's no big deal | it's not as if we're robbing a bank! |
| protest: you're not my father | anyone would think you were my father! |
More lines from the story
- ElenaWe talk as if we'd seen each other only yesterday.Hablamos como si nos hubiéramos visto ayer mismo.
- JaviAnd Grandma's put on heels! Anyone would think she was a young girl!¡Y la abuela se puso tacones! ¡Ni que fuera una niña!
- ElenaRosario and I are going out partying, as they say here.Rosario y yo nos vamos de rumba, como dicen aquí.
- JaviBut Grandma hasn't gone out at night for twenty years.Pero la abuela no sale de noche desde hace veinte años.