Como Se in Portuguese: Say “As If” with Fosse, Tivesse and Estivesse

Compare with an imagined situation

Ciberdúvidas’ explanation of como se identifies the hypothetical comparison and its subjunctive verb, with agreement determined by the subject. The reference was checked on October 21, 2026.

• Ela explica como se fosse uma conversa entre amigos. — “She explains as if it were a conversation among friends.”
• Ele fala como se tivesse todo o tempo do mundo. — “He speaks as if he had all the time in the world.”
• Estou praticando como se estivesse numa entrevista. — “I’m practicing as if I were in an interview.”

The interview can be imaginary even though the practice is happening now. An imperfect subjunctive form does not force the entire sentence into past time. Look at estou praticando to locate the actual activity, then at como se to recognize the comparison.

Choose the verb for the meaning inside the comparison

• como se fosse uma entrevista — “as if it were an interview”
• como se tivesse mais tempo — “as if I, he or she had more time, depending on context”
• como se estivesse em casa — “as if I, he or she were at home, depending on context”

Fosse comes from ser and can identify the imagined situation. Tivesse comes from ter and can introduce possession or available time. Estivesse comes from estar and can describe a location or state. They are not interchangeable just because English uses were or had in a familiar frame.

With plural subjects, change the form: Eles agem como se estivessem em casa — “They act as if they were at home.” Estivessem agrees with eles. Start with one pattern you understand rather than guessing a form from the last noun you heard.

Original dialogue: rehearse a situation without claiming it happened

B asks for a role-play, not a report of an interview that took place. The last line requests specific feedback. You can reuse this structure with a shop, an invitation or a conversation with a partner’s family, changing the setting while keeping the practice goal clear.

As if is different from if—and from a naming question

• Se eu tivesse tempo, estudaria mais. — “If I had time, I would study more.”
• Ele fala como se tivesse tempo. — “He speaks as if he had time.”
• Como se chama este lugar? — “What is this place called?”

The first creates a condition and a possible result. The second compares someone’s behavior with an imagined situation. The final question uses como to ask how something is named; se belongs to the naming construction. The adjacent words como se do not automatically mean as if in every sentence.

For the condition-and-result pattern, use se eu tivesse. Here, keep your attention on what is being compared rather than adding a would result that the sentence does not need.

Practice: identify the imagined scene

1. Complete Pratico como se ___ numa entrevista with a form of estar.
2. Does fala como se soubesse tudo confirm that the person knows everything?
3. Change ele age como se estivesse em casa to eles.
4. Translate Como se chama este lugar?.
5. Choose the sentence that sets a condition: Se eu tivesse tempo, estudaria or Falo como se tivesse tempo.

Continue with real conversation practice

Use this activity in a short weekly Portuguese routine. The dialogues and exercises are original written practice. Try changing one detail and saying your own version aloud.

Continue with Real Life Portuguese for native Brazilian audio and everyday expressions. Choose a short exchange available in the app. Listen for the speaker’s intention, then use a pattern from this activity to prepare a reply that fits your own situation. Bruno Lopes is a co-founder of the app.