Unreal past comparisons (como se)

Unreal Comparisons with "Como se"

When describing strange or exaggerated behavior, we often compare it to an imaginary scenario using como se (as if).

Because these comparisons are hypothetical, they trigger the subjunctive. When referring to an imaginary event that supposedly happened before another past event—like saying someone acted as if they had seen a monster—use the Mais-que-perfeito do Conjuntivo (Pluperfect Subjunctive).

This compound tense is formed with the imperfect subjunctive of the auxiliary verb ter plus the past participle of the main verb:

  • tivesse, tivesses, tivesse, tivéssemos, tivessem
    • past participle (e.g., visto, tido, falado)
The terrified man was trembling as if he had seen a monster.
O homem aterrorizado estava a tremer como se tivesse visto um monstro.
You woke up very pale as if you had had a nightmare.
Tu acordaste muito pálido como se tivesses tido um pesadelo.

Setting the Scene

Notice how the main clause is typically in a past indicative tense (like the Pretérito Perfeito or Imperfeito) to set the scene, followed immediately by como se and the Pluperfect Subjunctive.

The kid got pale as if the creature had spoken to him.
O miúdo ficou pálido como se a criatura tivesse falado para ele.
They spoke with us as if they had discovered an alien or a vampire.
Eles falaram connosco como se tivessem descoberto um extraterrestre ou um vampiro.
It seemed like a hallucination, as if the table had started to levitate.
Parecia uma alucinação, como se a mesa tivesse começado a levitar.
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