A synchronic corpus study of as if-clauses and as though-clauses in adverbial, complementation and monoclausal constructions

Abstract

This dissertation provides a synchronic study of as if-clauses and as though-clauses in adverbial, complementation and monoclausal constructions. The study analyses data drawn from the corpus Collins Wordbanks Online. This dissertation has three aims: (a) to compare the subordinators and see to what extent the findings on as if apply to as though, (b) to study the meanings of as if-clauses and as though-clauses and show that they do not exclusively express comparison or denial, and (c) to determine which of the two subordinators has moved furthest down the cline of grammaticalization.