pretend

pretend — verb

1. to behave as though a false situation or feeling were real, either to trick peop

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to behave as though a false situation or feeling were real, either to trick people or during children's make-believe play

例句

Daichi <hw>pretended</hw> to be asleep so his sister would leave him alone.

pretend + to-infinitive for feigning an action

Those young actors are just <hw>pretending</hw> — the fight is not real.

gerund form with no object for playful context

同義詞
  • make believe

    More playful and innocent; common among children and in game contexts

  • fake

    Stronger and more negative; suggests deliberate deception rather than play

  • feign

    Formal register; used in writing more than speech

文法句型

pretend + that-clause

pretend + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Frequently used with a that-clause (often with 'that' dropped in informal speech) or a to-infinitive. When the meaning is 'for fun' rather than 'to deceive', the gerund form (e.g. 'just pretending') is common in spoken English.

常見錯誤

❌He pretended me that he was sick.
✅He pretended to me that he was sick.
💡When adding an indirect object, use 'to' before it.
❌I am pretending not to see you.' (awkward split infinitive avoidance)
✅I am pretending not to see you.
💡This is actually fine; the split infinitive is natural here.

2. to claim a certain skill, status, or entitlement that you do not genuinely posse

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to claim a certain skill, status, or entitlement that you do not genuinely possess

例句

Yael <hw>pretends</hw> to be a wine expert though she knows little.

pretend + to-infinitive for false claims of ability

A man who <hw>pretended</hw> to be a doctor at the hospital was arrested.

pretend + to be [role] for false identity

同義詞

文法句型

pretend + to-infinitive (ability/status)

用法筆記

In this sense, the subject claims a specific role or ability that they do not genuinely possess. Unlike sense 1 ('Fake or Play'), this sense cannot be used for innocent games or playful deception — it always carries a connotation of dishonesty.

常見錯誤

❌She pretended that she was a doctor' (when she means she was playing).
✅She pretended to be a doctor during the medical exam.
💡Depending on context, 'that-clause' fits sense 1 (play) while 'to be [role]' for false identity fits sense 2.

pretend — adjective