Als ik geld had, zou ik op reis gaan.
English: If I had money, I would go on a trip.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Bijzinnen en samengestelde zinnen
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Conditional sentences in Dutch are used to talk about situations that depend on a certain condition. They often describe what could happen if something else happens.
When to use it
You use conditional sentences in Dutch to talk about hypothetical situations, possibilities, or things that could happen if a certain condition is met.
Key forms
- Als + bijzin (imperfectum) + hoofdzin (zou + infinitief)
- Bijvoorbeeld: Als ik tijd had, zou ik meer lezen.
Examples
Als het mooi weer was, zouden we buiten zitten.
English: If the weather was nice, we would sit outside.
Als hij harder werkte, zou hij slagen.
English: If he worked harder, he would succeed.
Als je vroeg kwam, zou je het begin niet missen.
English: If you came early, you wouldn't miss the beginning.
Tips
- In Dutch, the verb in the 'als' clause is usually in the past tense (imperfectum).
- Use 'zou' (or 'zouden' for plural) + infinitive in the main clause.
- Don't use 'zal'/'zullen' in the conditional form; use 'zou'/'zouden'.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Sometimes the order of the clauses can change: the main clause can come first.
- In informal speech, the 'als' can be dropped, but this is less common.