var

Unreal Past in Wishes and Advice

Level 4

In Danish, the past tense (datid) isn't just for the past. It is used to create 'mental distance' for things that aren't currently true (hypotheticals) or to soften advice.

How It Works

Danish uses the Hypothetical Past (hypotetisk datid) to express the 'irrealis' mood. Unlike English, which sometimes uses a special subjunctive form ('If I were you'), modern Danish simply uses the standard past tense forms.

This pattern is used in three main ways:

  • Counterfactuals: Situations opposite to reality. Hvis jeg var rig... (If I were rich).
  • Wishes: Expressing a desire for a different present. This is often done using the particle gid: Gid det var sommer! (If only it were summer!).
  • Politeness/Advice: Softening a statement. Det var måske en god idé at... (It would perhaps be a good idea to...).

Word Order and Inversion:
1. Subordinate Order: The hvis-clause follows subordinate word order, meaning sentence adverbs like ikke must come before the verb: Hvis jeg ikke var syg...
2. Conditional Inversion: You can omit 'hvis' by using conditional inversion, starting the sentence with the verb: Var jeg rig, købte jeg en båd.

Past Counterfactuals: To talk about unreal situations in the past, use the pluperfect: Hvis jeg havde været der, havde jeg hjulpet dig.

Note on 'ville': Avoid using ville in the 'if' part to mean 'would'. However, it is correct if you mean 'were willing to': Hvis du ville hjælpe mig, blev jeg glad.

Another wish pattern: Bare det var sommer! (if only it were summer!) uses bare with the same hypothetical var as gid. Another order is Var det bare sommer!

The result: A common neutral pattern is ville + infinitive: Hvis jeg var rig, ville jeg købe en båd (if I were rich, I would buy a boat). Simple hypothetical past in the result, as in købte jeg en båd, is also possible; ville is not obligatory. For past unreal results, compare ville have hjulpet and havde hjulpet. Context distinguishes a hypothetical past form from an actual past event.

Examples (5)

  1. Hvis jeg var dig, ville jeg købe den.

    If I were you, I would buy it.

    Word by Word: If I was you, would I buy it.

    Here, 'var' (past of 'være') is used for a hypothetical present situation.

  2. Gid det var sommer!

    If only it were summer!

    Word by Word: If-only it was summer!

    The particle 'gid' is used with the past tense to express a strong wish for something that is not currently true.

  3. Havde jeg penge nok, rejste jeg til Japan.

    Had I enough money, I would travel to Japan.

    Word by Word: Had I money enough, traveled I to Japan.

    This shows conditional inversion, where the 'hvis' is omitted and the verb starts the sentence.

  4. Hvis jeg ikke var så træt, hjalp jeg dig.

    If I weren't so tired, I would help you.

    Word by Word: If I not was so tired, helped I you.

    In the 'hvis'-clause, the adverb 'ikke' must come before the verb.

  5. Det var måske en god idé at vente.

    It would perhaps be a good idea to wait.

    Word by Word: It was perhaps a good idea to wait.

    The past tense 'var' is used here to soften advice and make it more polite.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present tense for hypothetical 'if' situations.

    Hvis jeg er dig, ville jeg vente.
    Hvis jeg var dig, ville jeg vente.

    Since you are not actually the other person, you must use the past tense 'var' to show it is hypothetical.

  • Using 'ville' inside the 'hvis' (if) clause to mean 'would'.

    Hvis jeg ville have tid, kom jeg.
    Hvis jeg havde tid, kom jeg.

    In Danish, the condition clause (the 'if' part) uses the simple past to express 'would'. Ville can occur when its own modal meaning is needed, for example willingness. Do not add it mechanically as a hypothetical marker.

  • Forgetting inversion in the main clause after a 'hvis'-clause.

    Hvis jeg var rig, jeg ville købe et hus.
    Hvis jeg var rig, ville jeg købe et hus.

    When a 'hvis'-clause starts the sentence, it acts as the first element, so the main clause must follow V2 word order with the verb before the subject.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

varLevel 4Unreal Past in Wishes and Advice

Learn This First

To understand the use of the past tense for unreal wishes and advice, you first need to know the past tense forms of common verbs like 'være' (var). You also need to understand how to form conditional 'if' clauses (hvis) and the general concept of using the past tense to describe hypothetical or 'unreal' situations rather than past events.

Words in This Pattern

være