som om
As if (Som Om)
Use som om to describe a situation that appears to be true or is being compared to reality, even if it isn't actually the case. It functions as a subordinating conjunction.
How It Works
The expression som om is the standard way to say 'as if' in Danish. It is used in two main ways:
- Hypothetical Comparisons: When describing something that is not true but feels like it is. In these cases, the past tense is used to mark the 'unreal' nature of the statement (e.g., Det føles, som om det var sommer - It feels as if it were summer).
- Apparent Situations: When describing how something looks or seems, where the truth is uncertain (e.g., Det ser ud, som om det regner - It looks as if it is raining).
Word Order:
Because som om introduces a subordinate clause, any sentence adverbs like ikke or aldrig must come before the finite verb. This is known as the S-A-V (Subject-Adverb-Verb) rule.
Literary Variant:
In formal or literary Danish, you might see som used alone with inversion (Verb-Subject order) to mean the same thing: Han råbte, som var han besat (He shouted as if he were possessed).
Examples (4)
- Han opfører sig, som om han ejer hele verden.
He behaves as if he owns the whole world.
Word by Word: He behaves himself, as if he owns whole world-the.
Here, 'som om' introduces a comparison to a behavior that isn't literally true.
- Det ser ud, som om det ikke kommer til at regne alligevel.
It looks as if it isn't going to rain after all.
Word by Word: It looks out, as if it not comes to to rain anyway.
Notice that 'ikke' comes before the verb 'kommer' because this is a subordinate clause.
- Hun kiggede på mig, som om jeg var skør.
She looked at me as if I were crazy.
Word by Word: She looked at me, as if I was crazy.
The past tense 'var' is used here to indicate a hypothetical or 'unreal' state.
- Som om!
As if! / Yeah, right!
Word by Word: As if!
In casual speech, this can be used as a standalone exclamation to express disbelief.
Common Mistakes
Using main clause word order (V2) after 'som om'.
Det ser ud, som om han er ikke glad.Det ser ud, som om han ikke er glad.In a subordinate clause, the adverb 'ikke' must come before the verb 'er'.
Using 'ligesom' to introduce a full clause.
Det ser ud ligesom det regner.Det ser ud, som om det regner.'Ligesom' mostly compares nouns or phrases. For a full clause about how things seem, 'som om' is the standard choice.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'som om', you need to know how to form subordinate clauses in Danish, as this pattern triggers subordinate word order. It also builds upon the basic functions of the particles 'som' and 'om'.
- somWho / Which / That (Som)
The word 'som' is a core component of this comparison marker, and understanding its role in comparisons and relative clauses is fundamental.
Level 2 - om (konjunktion)Whether / if (Om)
The word 'om' functions here as a conjunction similar to its use in 'whether' or 'if' clauses, which is necessary to form the 'as if' meaning.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- Word Order In Subordinate Clauses
'Som om' is a subordinating conjunction and follows these specific word order rules.
Level 2 - ikke + Finite VerbIkke Before the Verb in Subordinate Clauses
This explains the specific placement of 'ikke' inside 'som om' clauses.
Level 2 - varUnreal Past in Wishes and Advice
Danish uses the past tense of 'være' (var) to express hypothetical 'as if' scenarios.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice som om in Bubblegum
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