Learn Spanish (Spain): ¿Pretendes que te lleve al centro? ¡Ni que fuera tu chófer! - 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!

Do you expect me to take you to the center? As if I were your chauffeur!

Breakdown of ¿Pretendes que te lleve al centro? ¡Ni que fuera tu chófer!

Questions & Answers about ¿Pretendes que te lleve al centro? ¡Ni que fuera tu chófer!

Why do we use the imperfect subjunctive (fuera) after ¡Ni que here?

The phrase ¡Ni que is used to express ironic rejection or indignation, similar to saying "As if..." in English. Because it sets up a hypothetical, contrary-to-fact scenario (the speaker is not actually a chauffeur), it must always be followed by the imperfect subjunctive or the pluperfect subjunctive, never the indicative or the present subjunctive.

Does pretendes mean "pretend" here?

No, pretender is a classic false friend! It doesn't mean "to fake" (which would be fingir). Instead, it means to expect, intend, or aim for something. In this sentence, ¿Pretendes que...? translates to "Do you expect me to...?"

Why is llevar conjugated in the present subjunctive (lleve)?

Because the main verb, pretender, expresses a desire or expectation directed at someone else. Whenever you use a verb of influence or wish, and there is a subject change between the two clauses (from "you expect" to "I take"), the verb in the que clause must take the subjunctive.

I've sometimes seen the word for chauffeur written without an accent mark. Why does chófer have one here?

It is a regional difference. In Spain, the spoken stress falls on the first syllable, so it requires a written accent mark: chófer. In many parts of Latin America, the stress falls naturally on the final syllable, so it is spelled and pronounced chofer without the accent.