As if + subjunctive

What does "Come se + subjunctive" mean?

"Come se" literally means "as if" or "as though." In Italian, when "come se" introduces a comparison that the speaker treats as imagined, unreal, or contrary to fact, the clause that follows normally uses the subjunctive mood. In other words, "come se + subjunctive" expresses that something is only pretended, guessed, or not true (or unlikely) at the time being.

Examples:
- "Parla come se fosse il capo." (He speaks as if he were the boss — but he isn’t.)
- "Mi guarda come se non mi vedesse." (He looks at me as if he didn't see me.)

When do I use "come se" + subjunctive?

To show a present/unreal or hypothetical comparison — use the imperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after "come se" when the speaker compares a present action or situation to something imagined or contrary to reality now.

Examples (imperfect subjunctive):
- "Si comporta come se fosse il proprietario." (He behaves as if he were the owner — he is not.)
- "Mi parla come se capisse tutto." (He talks to me as if he understood everything — but he doesn't.)
- "Fai come se fossi a casa tua." (Act as if you were at home / make yourself at home.)
- "Vive come se non esistessero regole." (He lives as if rules didn't exist.)

To show a past/unreal comparison — use the pluperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo trapassato)

Use the pluperfect subjunctive when the imagined or contrary-to-fact action refers to the past (something that would have happened earlier).

Examples (pluperfect subjunctive):
- "Ha reagito come se non avesse sentito la notizia." (He reacted as if he had not heard the news.)
- "Mi ha sorriso come se mi avesse già conosciuto." (He smiled at me as if he had already known me.)
- "Si comportava come se fosse stato ricco." (He behaved as if he had been rich.)

When the indicative can appear (colloquial or factual comparisons)

Standard Italian expects subjunctive after "come se" when the comparison is hypothetical or contrary to fact. In colloquial speech some speakers use the indicative after "come se" (especially when they think the comparison is real or possible), but this is less formal and often considered nonstandard. When in doubt and in formal writing/speaking, use the subjunctive.

Example (colloquial but not recommended formally):
- Colloquial: "Mi tratta come se è suo figlio." (He treats me as if he is his son — common in speech.)
- Standard: "Mi tratta come se fosse suo figlio." (He treats me as if he were his son.)

How do I form the subjunctive after "come se"?

1) Imperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto) — for present/unreal comparisons

Formation summary (examples for three regular verbs and two auxiliaries):
- Parlare: io parlassi, tu parlassi, lui/lei parlasse, noi parlassimo, voi parlaste, loro parlassero
- Credere: io credessi, tu credessi, lui/lei credesse, noi credessimo, voi credeste, loro credessero
- Dormire: io dormissi, tu dormissi, lui/lei dormisse, noi dormissimo, voi dormiste, loro dormissero
- Essere: io fossi, tu fossi, lui/lei fosse, noi fossimo, voi foste, loro fossero
- Avere: io avessi, tu avessi, lui/lei avesse, noi avessimo, voi aveste, loro avessero

Examples (imperfect subjunctive):
- "Parla come se fosse esperto." (He speaks as if he were expert.)
- "Mi guarda come se non mi vedesse." (He looks at me as if he didn't see me.)
- "Sembrano come se capissero tutto." (They look as if they understood everything.)

2) Pluperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo trapassato) — for past/unreal comparisons

Formation: imperfect subjunctive of the auxiliary (essere or avere) + past participle.
- Example with avere: "(lui) avesse studiato" = avesse (imperfect subjunctive of avere) + studiato (past participle)
- Example with essere: "(lui) fosse stato invitato" = fosse stato (imperfect subjunctive of essere + past participle)

Examples (pluperfect subjunctive):
- "Ha parlato come se avesse studiato per l'esame." (He spoke as if he had studied for the exam.)
- "Mi aveva trattato come se non mi avesse visto prima." (He had treated me as if he hadn't seen me before.)
- "Si comportavano come se fossero stati informati.» (They behaved as if they had been informed.)

Tip: match the time reference
- Present or current unreal -> imperfect subjunctive (es.: "fosse").
- Past unreal -> pluperfect subjunctive (es.: "avesse studiato", "fosse stato").

Common mistakes to avoid

1) Using the conditional instead of the subjunctive

Incorrect: "Si comporta come sarebbe ricco." (wrong)

Correct: "Si comporta come se fosse ricco." (right)

Explanation: English speakers sometimes translate "as if he would be" too literally and use condizionale in Italian. Use the subjunctive instead.

2) Using the indicative when the subjunctive is required

Incorrect (colloquial): "Mi guarda come se non mi vede." (common spoken form)

Correct (standard): "Mi guarda come se non mi vedesse."

3) Wrong tense after "come se" (time mismatch)

Incorrect: "Mi ha parlato come se non mi capisse." (main clause past, subordinate uses imperfect subjunctive as if present unreal)

Correct: "Mi ha parlato come se non mi avesse capito." (main clause past, subordinate past-unreal -> pluperfect subjunctive)

4) Forgetting agreement when 'essere' is the auxiliary in trapassato

When the pluperfect subjunctive uses "essere" as auxiliary, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject.
- "Lei si era comportata come se fosse stata la direttrice." (She had behaved as if she had been the director.)

Examples grouped by meaning and tense (quick reference)

Present/unreal comparisons — congiuntivo imperfetto
- "Parla come se fosse il capo." (He speaks as if he were the boss.)
- "Mi guarda come se non mi vedesse." (He looks at me as if he didn't see me.)
- "Fai come se fossi a casa tua." (Act as if you were at home.)
- "Si comporta come se non avesse bisogno di aiuto." (He behaves as if he didn't need help.)
- "Loro ridono come se non esistessero problemi." (They laugh as if there were no problems.)

Past/unreal comparisons — congiuntivo trapassato
- "Ha risposto come se avesse studiato tutta la notte." (He answered as if he had studied all night.)
- "Mi ha salutato come se mi avesse già conosciuto." (He greeted me as if he had already known me.)
- "Si era comportato come se fosse stato ricco." (He had behaved as if he had been rich.)
- "La casa sembrava come se qualcuno vi avesse vissuto per anni." (The house looked as if someone had lived there for years.)

Imperative + come se (pretend) — common in instructions
- "Fai come se fossi a casa tua." (Make yourself at home.)
- "Reciti la parte come se fossi un attore professionista." (Play the role as if you were a professional actor.)

Colloquial indicative (not recommended in formal writing)
- Colloquial: "Mi tratta come se è ricco." (heard in speech)
- Standard: "Mi tratta come se fosse ricco." (preferred)

Short comparison with English and nearby Italian structures

- English: "He acts as if he were rich." -> Italian: "Si comporta come se fosse ricco." (imperfect subjunctive)
- English: "She looked at me as if she had seen me before." -> Italian: "Mi ha guardato come se mi avesse già visto." (pluperfect subjunctive)

Compare with conditional clauses using "se":
- "Se fossi ricco, comprerei una casa." (If I were rich, I would buy a house.) — conditional result of a hypothetical condition.
- "Si comporta come se fosse ricco." — comparison, not a conditional result.

Compare with "sembra che + subjunctive":
- "Sembra che non ci sia più tempo." (It seems that there is no more time.)
- "Sembra come se non ci fosse più tempo." (It seems as if there were no more time.) — both use subjunctive when expressing uncertainty.

Glossary

Final tips

- When the comparison is imaginary or contrary to reality, use the subjunctive after "come se".
- Choose the tense according to the time reference: imperfect subjunctive for present/unreal; pluperfect subjunctive for past/unreal.
- Avoid using the conditional or the indicative in formal Italian when the subjunctive is required.

If you keep the time-reference rule in mind and practice with short examples (like the ones above), you will quickly get comfortable with "come se + subjunctive."