Questions & Answers about Das klingt, als ob er krank wäre.
Why do we use wäre instead of ist here?
The phrase als ob (as if) sets up an irreal comparison, meaning a situation that is hypothetical or not actually true. To show this, we use the Konjunktiv II form wäre (were) instead of the normal present tense ist (is).
Why does wäre go at the very end of the sentence?
The phrase als ob acts as a subordinating conjunction. When a clause starts with als ob, it becomes a subordinate clause, which forces the conjugated verb (wäre) all the way to the end.
Is wäre always the verb we use with als ob?
Not always! It depends on the meaning. Here, we need the Konjunktiv II form of sein (to be) because the sentence means as if he were. If the sentence meant as if he had time, you would use the Konjunktiv II of haben (to have): Das klingt, als ob er Zeit hätte.
Can I say this using just als instead of als ob?
Yes, but the grammar changes slightly. If you drop the ob, the conjugated verb jumps to the second position right after als. The sentence becomes: Das klingt, als wäre er krank.
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