Similarity clauses (-mış gibi)

Acting "As If" with -ıyor gibi

To describe someone acting as if they are currently doing something, use the present continuous suffix (-ıyor / -iyor / -uyor / -üyor) followed by gibi (like/as).

You will often see the word sanki (as if / as though) placed at the beginning of the clause. It isn't strictly required, but it is commonly used to add emphasis to the illusion or pretense.

as if
sanki
Magic is not real, but the magician smiles as if he is doing magic.
Sihir gerçek değil ama sihirbaz sanki sihir yapıyor gibi gülümsüyor.
He walks as if he is hiding the rope under his cape.
O, sanki ipi pelerininin altında saklıyor gibi yürüyor.

Past Similarity: -mış gibi

To describe someone acting as if they have already done something, swap the present continuous suffix for the reported past suffix (-mış / -miş / -muş / -müş).

Verb StemTense SuffixWith gibiMeaning
yap-yapıyoryapıyor gibias if (currently) doing
yap-yapmışyapmış gibias if having done
yut-yutmuşyutmuş gibias if having swallowed
The audience looks as if the magician has fooled them.
Seyirci, sihirbaz onları kandırmış gibi bakıyor.
The bewildered audience shouts as if the magician has swallowed the rope.
Şaşkın seyirci, sanki sihirbaz ipi yutmuş gibi bağırıyor.
He wants a black cape as if he has done magic.
Sanki sihir yapmış gibi siyah bir pelerin istiyor.

The Negative Form

To talk about someone acting as if they haven't done something, add the negative suffix (-ma / -me) to the verb stem before the tense suffix. For past actions, this creates the combination -mamış gibi or -memiş gibi.

The magician who does the illusion laughs as if he hasn't fooled us.
İllüzyonu yapan sihirbaz, bizi kandırmamış gibi gülüyor.
He lies as if he hasn't fooled us with an illusion.
Sanki bizi illüzyonla kandırmamış gibi yalan söylüyor.
The magician looks as if he has never seen the bewildered audience.
Sihirbaz, şaşkın seyirciyi hiç görmemiş gibi bakıyor.