As If: как будто
To describe something hypothetical or surreal, English uses "as if" or "as though." Russian gives you three beautiful options for this, the most common being как будто.
Notice that you do not need to force the verb into the past tense (as you would with some other hypothetical structures). Just use whatever tense naturally describes the comparison.
| The lake froze, as if it were a crystal mirror. | Озеро застыло, как будто это хрустальное зеркало. |
| If time freezes, the misty city will look as if it were sleeping. | Если время застынет, туманный город будет выглядеть, как будто спит. |
Poetic Comparisons: словно
For a slightly more literary or poetic tone, use словно (as though / like). It is perfect for painting vivid, dreamy pictures and surreal atmospheres.
| The boy wanders through the misty park, as if he were a ghost. | Мальчик бродит по туманному парку, словно он привидение. |
| The echo dissolves in the forest, as if someone were whispering. | Эхо растворяется в лесу, словно кто-то шепчет. |
Exactly As If: точно
You probably already know точно as an adverb meaning "exactly" or "precisely." When used to link two clauses, it acts as a conjunction meaning "exactly as if."
| This misty city glows, exactly as if it were a strange dream. | Этот туманный город светится, точно это странный сон. |
| Both ghosts froze, exactly as if they were weightless. | Оба привидения застыли, точно они невесомые. |
A Note on Punctuation
Remember: Just like with most Russian conjunctions, always place a comma immediately before как будто, словно, or точно when they introduce a new comparison clause.