it kā

As if: It Kā

Level 4

It kā means as if. The verb after it is usually in the conditional: Viņš runā tā, it kā viss būtu kārtībā (He talks as if everything were fine).

How It Works

1. As if. The it kā clause describes a picture that is not, or may not be, real. The conditional in -tu shows this:

  • Viņš runā tā, it kā viss būtu kārtībā. (He talks as if everything were fine.)
  • Man ir sajūta, it kā es te jau būtu bijis. (I have a feeling as if I had already been here.)

For something earlier, use the past conditional: Viņa izskatās, it kā nebūtu gulējusi visu nakti (She looks as if she had not slept all night).

2. The comma. An it kā clause is a subordinate clause, so a comma goes before it. A main clause with tā (like this) often points to it: runā tā, it kā ...

3. Supposedly, sort of. Inside a clause, it kā softens what you say. It shows doubt or that something only seems true:

  • Viņš it kā ir slims. (He is supposedly ill.)
  • Es it kā saprotu, bet ne līdz galam. (I sort of understand, but not completely.)

Here the verb stays in its ordinary form.

Look-alikes. When tā kā starts a clause, it gives a reason (since), so it cannot start an as-if clause. The longer itin kā means the same as it kā but is less common.

Examples (5)

  1. Viņš runā tā, it kā viss būtu kārtībā.

    He talks as if everything were fine.

    Word by Word: He talks so, as-if all would-be in-order.

  2. Viņa izskatās, it kā nebūtu gulējusi visu nakti.

    She looks as if she had not slept all night.

    The past conditional nebūtu gulējusi refers to the night before.

  3. Man ir sajūta, it kā es te jau būtu bijis.

    I have a feeling as if I had been here before.

    Word by Word: To-me is feeling, as-if I here already would-be been.

  4. Viņš it kā ir slims.

    He is supposedly ill.

    Here it kā is inside the clause and means supposedly. The verb ir stays in the ordinary present.

  5. Es it kā saprotu, bet ne līdz galam.

    I sort of understand, but not completely.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the comma before it kā.

    Viņš runā tā it kā viss būtu kārtībā.
    Viņš runā tā, it kā viss būtu kārtībā.

    It kā starts a comparison clause here, and a comma separates it from the main clause.

  • Using tā kā instead of it kā.

    Viņš runā tā, tā kā viss būtu kārtībā.
    Viņš runā tā, it kā viss būtu kārtībā.

    The sentence is meant to say He talks as if everything were fine. At the start of a clause, tā kā gives a reason (since). To compare with something unreal (as if), use it kā.

How It Connects

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

it kāLevel 4As if: It Kā

Learn This First

It kā means as if.