Breakdown of Ich rege mich auf, wenn er so redet, als ob er ein Held wäre.
ich
I
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
er
he
Questions & Answers about Ich rege mich auf, wenn er so redet, als ob er ein Held wäre.
Why do we use wäre instead of ist here?
We use wäre (the Konjunktiv II form of sein) because this is an unreal comparison introduced by als ob (as if). It expresses that he is not actually a hero, but he just talks like one.
Why does the verb wäre go at the very end of the sentence?
The phrase als ob acts as a subordinating conjunction. Just like with weil or dass, it creates a subordinate clause that kicks the conjugated verb (wäre) to the very end.
What does the so do in wenn er so redet?
The word so (in such a way) pairs perfectly with als ob. It sets up the comparison, literally meaning 'when he talks in such a way, as if...'. While sometimes dropped, using so here makes the sentence flow very naturally.
Why is there a mich in the phrase Ich rege mich auf?
The verb for 'to get upset' in German is sich aufregen, which is a reflexive verb. You literally have to say 'I upset myself', which is why you need the reflexive pronoun mich. Also, because it is a separable verb, the prefix auf goes to the end of its own clause.
Could I use wann instead of wenn to say 'when he talks'?