Español — Como si + subjunctive
To make a hypothetical comparison ('as if…'), Spanish uses como si (or the ironic ni que) followed by the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive, never the indicative: Habla como si lo supiera ('He speaks as if he knew it').
How it works
Choose the tense by time reference, not by the main verb: for a comparison simultaneous with the main clause use the imperfect subjunctive (Me mira como si no me conociera, 'She looks at me as if she didn't know me'); for something prior, use the pluperfect subjunctive (Estaba pálido como si hubiera visto un fantasma, 'He was pale as if he had seen a ghost'). The main verb can be in any tense.
Examples
| Example | Tense & meaning |
|---|---|
| Habla como si lo supiera. | Imperfect subj. — simultaneous: 'He speaks as if he knew it.' |
| Me trata como si fuera un niño. | Imperfect subj. — simultaneous: 'She treats me as if I were a child.' |
| Estaba pálido como si hubiera visto un fantasma. | Pluperfect subj. — prior: 'He was pale as if he had seen a ghost.' |
| Gasta dinero como si fuera millonario. | Imperfect subj. — simultaneous: 'He spends money as if he were a millionaire.' |
| ¡Ni que fueras el jefe! | Ni que (ironic) — simultaneous: 'As if you were the boss!' (you're not) |
| ¡Ni que hubieras corrido un maratón! | Ni que (ironic) — prior: 'As if you had run a marathon!' (you haven't) |
Good to know
After como si the indicative is never used: say Habla como si lo supiera, not *Habla como si lo sabe. The present subjunctive is also excluded — never *como si sepa. Both -ra and -se endings are valid (supiera / supiese, hubiera / hubiese visto). Note that ni que always carries an ironic, dismissive tone, unlike neutral como si.