When an acquaintance constantly shows off (angeben) or exaggerates (übertreiben), their stories can get quite unbelievable.
| Why does this show-off constantly have to show off? | Warum muss dieser Angeber ständig angeben? |
| The stories are unbelievable because he always has to exaggerate. | Die Geschichten sind unglaublich, weil er immer übertreiben muss. |
Unreal Comparisons with "als ob"
To describe behavior that contradicts reality, use the conjunction als ob (as if). Because the comparison is hypothetical, use the Konjunktiv II.
als ob is a subordinating conjunction, meaning the conjugated verb (like wäre) goes to the very end of the clause.
| He talks as if he were the master. | Er redet, als ob er der Meister wäre. |
| He claims a lot and acts as if he were a genius. | Er behauptet viel und tut so, als ob er ein Genie wäre. |
| This show-off cooks as if he were a master. | Dieser Angeber kocht, als ob er ein Meister wäre. |
You can easily combine these with other clauses to express how their behavior makes you feel:
| I get upset when he talks as if he were a hero. | Ich rege mich auf, wenn er so redet, als ob er ein Held wäre. |
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