"As if..." past subjunctive practice!

Question

I want you to all try conjugating in past subjunctive tense.

To do so, take the verb's form in 3rd person plural preterite, cut off the "on" at the end, then add the following endings

• yo:-a
• nosotros:-amos
• tú:-as
• vosotros:-áis
• él/ella/Ud:-a
• ellos/ellas/Uds.:-an

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Some examples: Estar, in third person plural preterite tense is "estuvieron." Cut off the "on" and add the ending for, say, tú form: estuvieras

Another:

• Comer-->comieron
• nosotros past subjunctive: comiéramos

Add the accent as necessary to keep the stress on the proper syllable.

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Now for the phrase: When you want to say the phrase "as if.." such as "You are talking to me as if I were your mother," you use the past subjunctive of the verb after the "as if."

The above sentence is translated as "¡Me hablas como si fuera tu madre!"

This form is used whether the previous clause is in the past or the present.

• They wore coats as if it were snowing.
• Llevaron abrigos como si nevara.

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So now you know an "everyday" use of the past subjunctive, one of the "more complicated" Spanish verb forms.

Now, you try! What "as if" phrases can you think of?

Good idea, Missy! Thank you so much! - Silvia_Tcherneva, Apr 17, 2012

Really god Missy, excellent idea. - annierats, Apr 17, 2012

Answer 1

Comes como si murieras de hambre!

You are eating as if you were starving to death!

Answer 2

Bebe como si no tuviera que trabajar mañana.

He's drinking as if he didn't have to work tomorrow.

is he pamplona? - Rey_Mysterio, Apr 17, 2012

I know people like this! jaja - missy8888, Apr 18, 2012

Yes, hecho, from Pamplona.. - annierats, Apr 18, 2012

Answer 3

Gasta como si tuviera una mata de dinero.

He spends as if he owned a money tree.

jeje, good one! ¡Hola, Franco! - Silvia_Tcherneva, Apr 17, 2012

ooh mata de dinero--that´s new to me! - missy8888, Apr 18, 2012

Answer 4

She is dancing as if she were on the stage.

Baila como si estuviera en el escenario.

Me encanta esa foto. Muy elocuente. Saludos, Silvia! - francobollo, Apr 17, 2012

¡Hola, Franco! Me alegro que te guste! ¡Gracias!:) - Silvia_Tcherneva, Apr 17, 2012

Answer 5

Canta como si estuviera solo en la casa.

He sings as if he were alone in the house.

*sólo - missy8888, Apr 18, 2012

Uhuh, I think "sólo" means "only", whereas "solo" means alone/lonely. - vanecessary, Apr 18, 2012

Answer 6

Hablo como si fuera mexicano.

I speak as if I am mexican.

Although it sounds strange, the correct English grammar for this sentence is "I speak as if I were Mexican." :) - missy8888, Apr 20, 2012

Answer 7

Mi suegra se comporta como si fuera la dueña de mi casa.

My mother-in-law behaves as if she owned my house.

¡Qué fastidio!:) - Silvia_Tcherneva, Apr 17, 2012

I wouldn't mind if she actually did some cleaning... - annierats, Apr 17, 2012

Y ponla a cocinar también! Para eso Dios inventó a las suegras.. je je je - francobollo, Apr 17, 2012

jajaja - missy8888, Apr 18, 2012

Answer 8

Las cebras estaban comiendo hierba tranquilamente, como si no supieran nada de leones.

The zebras were grazing quietly, as if they knew nothing about lions.

Experimental. I hope somebody can correct it. - annierats, Apr 19, 2012

Answer 9

Rie como si tuviera muchas ganas.
Laugh like you have really wanted