Using "como si" + the imperfect subjunctive for an ironic reproach

Using como si with El Pretérito Imperfecto Subjuntivo in Spanish

In Spanish we can use:

to express an ironic reproach.

For example:

Pedro dice que yo soy muy fea. Como si él fuera muy guapo...Pedro says that I'm very ugly. It's not as if he is very handsome...

-No estás poniendo mucho de tu parte. -Como sicooperases mucho...-You are not participating much. -Well, you're not cooperating much either...

-No entiendes nada de cocina. -¡Como sisupieras hacer un huevo frito!-You don't know anything about cooking. -Says the person who can't even fry an egg!

All this is said ironically. What the speaker is pointing out is that:

1. How dare Pedro say that I am not pretty if he is not handsome at all.

2. She is not cooperating either!

3. He can't even fry an egg, so why is he telling her that?

This is when we are referring to a completed action in the past, El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo may also be used with como si. For example:

-La trataron muy mal en la embajada. -Como si hubiera sido su culpa que le robaran el pasaporte.-They didn't treat her well at the embassy. -It's not her fault she had her passport stolen.

This structure is very similar to Using Ni que + subjuntivo in Spanish

See also:

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Examples and resources

Pedro dice que yo soy muy fea. Como si él fuera muy guapo...Pedro says that I'm very ugly. It's not as if he is very handsome...
-No estás poniendo mucho de tu parte. -Como sicooperases mucho...-You are not participating much. -Well, you're not cooperating much either...
-La trataron muy mal en la embajada. -Como si hubiera sido su culpa que le robaran el pasaporte.-They didn't treat her well at the embassy. -It's not her fault she had her passport stolen.
-No entiendes nada de cocina. -¡Como sisupieras hacer un huevo frito!-You don't know anything about cooking. -Says the person who can't even fry an egg!
Let me take a look at that...