Hypothetical / Imagined Situation
Is it real or imagined?
Betekenis
A layer for imagined, conditional, wished, unreal, counterfactual, or not-yet-real situations.
Zo herken je het
Ask whether the sentence describes reality or an imagined possible world.
Voorbeelden
if|would|wish|could|imagine
if I were|I wish|would go
If I had time, I would travel more.
Visual guide
REAL frame: what is true IMAGINED frame: IF... if I had time -> I would travel more E12 = possible/wish world
Where can E12 live? word: if / wish modal: would / could tense shift: if I were mood/form: irrealis form context: imagine... same job: not-real frame
Taaloverzicht
In je moedertaal
Hypotheticals usually use past forms and zou constructions, not a full active subjunctive system.
Als ik tijd had, zou ik komen.
If I time had, would I come.
In de taal die je leert
English hypothetical meanings use past forms, modal verbs, conditionals, and would/could/might.
If I had time, I would go.
would go = hypothetical situation
Learners often mix real and hypothetical conditionals or overuse would in if-clauses.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.