Como si: speaking as if you knew

Spanish: Como si: hablar como si supiera

Level: B2 Upper-Intermediate

Category: conditionals

Explanation

The expression "como si" (as if / as though) is used to make hypothetical or unreal comparisons: situations that are not true, but which we compare to reality. In Spanish, "como si" is ALWAYS followed by the subjunctive, never the indicative. This is very important and different from English, where "as if" can take normal tenses. When the unreal situation refers to the present, or to the same moment as the main clause, we use the imperfect subjunctive (-ara/-iera or -ase/-iese forms). For example: "Habla como si supiera mucho" (He speaks as if he knew a lot — but in reality he does not). The main verb can be in the present, but "como si" forces the subjunctive. When the unreal situation refers to something earlier than the moment of the main clause, we use the pluperfect subjunctive (hubiera/hubiese + past participle). For example: "Me trató como si no hubiera pasado nada" (He treated me as if nothing had happened). Here the unreal event happens before the main verb. "Como si" also has variants with the same meaning: "igual que si" and "lo mismo que si". All require the subjunctive. This structure is very common in everyday speech to express irony, criticism, or to describe behaviour that seems, but is not, real.

Examples

• El camarero me habla como si fuera un cliente habitual. - The waiter talks to me as if I were a regular customer.
• Pides el cafe como si supieras todos los nombres en espanol. - You order the coffee as if you knew all the names in Spanish.
• El recepcionista me trato como si yo no tuviera reserva. - The receptionist treated me as if I did not have a reservation.
• Entraste en la habitacion como si hubieras estado alli antes. - You walked into the room as if you had been there before.
• La vendedora me ofrecio el precio como si me hiciera un gran favor. - The seller offered me the price as if she were doing me a big favour.