como se + Imperfect Subjunctive

As if: Como Se

Level 4

Como se means "as if". The verb after it is always in the imperfect subjunctive: Fala como se o soubese todo (he talks as if he knew everything).

How It Works

The pattern

Main clause + como se + imperfect subjunctive. The main verb can be in any tense:

  • Present: Fala como se fose o xefe (he talks as if he were the boss).
  • Past: Falou como se fose o xefe (he talked as if he were the boss).
  • Future: Vaiche falar como se fose o xefe (he will talk to you as if he were the boss).

Unlike most subjunctive clauses, como se does not follow the sequence of tenses: it never takes the present subjunctive.

Earlier events

Galician has no compound subjunctive, so the same simple form also places the imagined event before the main one: Durmín como se levase unha semana sen durmir (I slept as if I had not slept for a week).

Como se or coma se

You will read both como se and coma se with the same meaning. Coma is the form Galician uses in comparisons (tan ... coma), and facer coma se is a common way to say "to pretend": Fai coma se non oíse nada (she acts as if she heard nothing).

Pronouns

Object pronouns go before the verb after como se, because se is a subordinator: como se o soubese, como se non me vise.

Examples (6)

  1. Fala como se o soubese todo.

    He talks as if he knew everything.

    The main verb is present, but como se still takes the imperfect subjunctive soubese.

  2. Actuou como se non me vise.

    She acted as if she had not seen me.

    Vise comes from ver (viron). The same form can mean "did not see" or "had not seen".

  3. Trátanos como se fósemos nenos.

    They treat us as if we were children.

    Fósemos is the nós form of fose and carries a written accent.

  4. Comeu como se non houbese un mañá.

    He ate as if there were no tomorrow.

    Houbese is impersonal haber, so it stays singular.

  5. Durmín como se levase unha semana sen durmir.

    I slept as if I had not slept for a week.

    Levase comes from levar + time, which says how long something has lasted.

  6. Fai coma se non oíse nada.

    She acts as if she heard nothing.

    Facer coma se means to pretend. Oíse comes from oíron, the preterite of oír.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indicative after como se.

    Fala como se o sabe todo.
    Fala como se o soubese todo.

    Como se introduces an imagined situation, so the verb must be in the imperfect subjunctive.

  • Using the present subjunctive because the main verb is present.

    Trátanos como se sexamos nenos.
    Trátanos como se fósemos nenos.

    Como se always takes the imperfect subjunctive, whatever the tense of the main verb.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

como se + Imperfect SubjunctiveLevel 4As if: Como Se

Learn This First

Como se introduces an imagined comparison with the imperfect subjunctive.

Words in This Pattern

como se