nagu + Conditional
As if (Nagu Oleks)
Ta käitub, nagu oleks ta ülemus means he acts as if he were the boss. The conditional shows it only seems that way.
How It Works
Put a conditional verb after nagu, justkui or the more literary otsekui:
- Ta käitub, nagu oleks ta ülemus. (He acts as if he were the boss.)
- Tundus, justkui oleks keegi toas. (It felt as if someone were in the room.)
The verb may come right after the linking word or after the subject. Both orders are correct: nagu oleks ta or nagu ta oleks.
For something that seems to have already happened, use the past conditional: Mul on tunne, nagu oleksin ma siin varem käinud. (I feel as if I had been here before.)
Compare with the indicative, which only compares: Tee nii, nagu ma ütlesin. (Do it the way I said.) An as-if clause has a verb, so it takes a comma before it.
Examples (6)
- Ta käitub, nagu oleks ta ülemus.
He acts as if he were the boss.
Word by Word: he behaves as would-be he boss
- Tundus, justkui oleks keegi toas.
It felt as if someone were in the room.
- Mul on tunne, nagu oleksin ma siin varem käinud.
I feel as if I had been here before.
The past conditional oleksin käinud looks back.
- Ta vaatas mind, nagu näeks ta mind esimest korda.
She looked at me as if she were seeing me for the first time.
- Ära tee nägu, nagu sa ei teaks!
Don't act as if you didn't know!
Nägu tegema literally means to make a face.
- Ta peitis end teiste selja taha, justkui häbeneks ta oma välimust.
She hid behind the others as if she were ashamed of her looks.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative when you mean as if.
Ta käitub, nagu ta on ülemus.Ta käitub, nagu oleks ta ülemus.With on, the sentence says he really is the boss. The conditional oleks shows that he only acts like one.
Leaving out the comma before the as-if clause.
Ta käitub nagu oleks ta ülemus.Ta käitub, nagu oleks ta ülemus.An as-if clause has its own verb, so it is separated with a comma.
How It Connects
Learn This First
As if combines nagu and the conditional.
Related Patterns
- kui + ConditionalUnreal Conditions
Another pattern where the conditional marks something that is not true.
Level 3 - Would Have (oleksin teinud)
Used after nagu for something that seems to have happened.
Level 3 - tundumaSeeming (Tunduma)
Tundus, justkui ... is a very common way to describe an impression.
Level 3 - Commas Before Clauses
An as-if clause with a verb needs a comma.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice nagu + Conditional in Bubblegum
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