Calling out outrageous demands
When people expect the impossible, you might need to point out their ridiculous behavior. Use verbs like pretender (to expect or claim) alongside nouns like el atrevimiento (the audacity) or el descaro (the nerve).
| Does he expect us to keep quiet? What an audacity! | ¿Pretende que nos callemos? ¡Qué atrevimiento! |
Ironic rejections with "¡Ni que...!"
To playfully or indignantly reject an absurd assumption, use the exclamation ¡ni que...! (as if...!).
This expression always triggers the past subjunctive because it describes a scenario completely contrary to reality. Use the imperfect subjunctive (like fuera) to reject a current assumption.
| Do you expect me to take you to the center? As if I were your chauffeur! | ¿Pretendes que te lleve al centro? ¡Ni que fuera tu chófer! |
| He has the nerve to ask me for money. As if I were a millionaire! | Tiene el descaro de pedirme dinero. ¡Ni que fuera millonario! |
| He expects me to know the answer. As if I were a fortune teller! | Pretende que yo sepa la respuesta. ¡Ni que fuera adivino! |
Reacting to assumptions about the past
To reject assumptions about something that supposedly happened in the past, use ¡ni que...! with the pluperfect subjunctive (the imperfect subjunctive of haber + a past participle).
| She is indignant about that nonsense. As if I had insulted her! | Ella está indignada por ese disparate. ¡Ni que la hubiera insultado! |
| The chauffeur left indignant. As if we had paid him badly! | El chófer se fue indignado. ¡Ni que le hubiéramos pagado mal! |
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