kao da + Clause
As if
Use kao da plus a finite clause to describe an appearance or behaviour through a comparison with a situation. The comparison need not be asserted as fact.
How It Works
The clause after kao da can use ordinary tense forms: kao da zna, kao da je zaboravio, kao da će pasti. Croatian does not require a conditional simply because English uses “as if he were.”
The construction can express pretence, an impression or uncertainty. Izgleda kao da pada snijeg may describe a plausible appearance rather than something known to be false. Avoid reducing every kao da-clause to an impossible event.
Compare kao što, often used to compare with an established action or fact: kao što smo dogovorili. The choice changes the speaker’s presentation of the comparison.
Examples (3)
- Ponaša se kao da je sve u redu.
He is acting as if everything is all right.
- Izgledaš kao da nisi spavala.
You look as though you have not slept.
- Nebo je tamno, kao da će uskoro pasti kiša.
The sky is dark, as if it is going to rain soon.
How It Connects
Learn This First
An apparent comparison is expressed as a clause introduced by kao da.
Related Patterns
- Object Clauses With kakoReporting a Perceived Event
A perception clause can report a scene directly instead of comparing it.
Level 4 - kad biImagined Conditions
A conditional presents an explicitly imagined scenario.
Level 5 - Omitted Material in Comparisons
Other comparisons can omit repeated material.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice kao da + Clause in Bubblegum
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