setningerB1
Hypotetiske setninger og kondisjonalis
[Hypothetical & Conditional Sentences]Master conditional and hypothetical statements across three tiers: real conditions (present), unlikely scenarios (past), and counterfactual/unreal states (past perfect). Covers conjunctionless inversion ('Hadde jeg hatt...') and wish clauses.
1. The Three Types of Conditional Sentences
Hypothetical sentences express conditions based on the degree of probability:
Type / Scenario
1. Ganske sannsynlig (Reell betingelse)(1. Likely / Real condition)
Verb tense in 'if'-clause
Presens(Present (Presens))
Verb tense in main clause
Presens / Framtid(Present / Future)
Example (with translation)
Hvis du handler, lager jeg middag.(If you do the shopping, I'll make dinner.)
Type / Scenario
2. Lite sannsynlig (Nåtid / Framtid)(2. Unlikely (Present / Future))
Verb tense in 'if'-clause
Preteritum(Past (Preteritum))
Verb tense in main clause
Modalverb i preteritum + infinitiv(Past modal verb + infinitive)
Example (with translation)
Hvis jeg hadde penger, kunne jeg kjøpe en bil.(If I had money, I could buy a car.)
Type / Scenario
3. Urealistisk / Umulig (Variant A)(3. Unreal / Counterfactual (Option A))
Verb tense in 'if'-clause
Preteritum perfektum(Past perfect)
Verb tense in main clause
Preteritum perfektum(Past perfect)
Example (with translation)
Hvis jeg hadde hatt penger, hadde jeg kjøpt en bil.(If I had had money, I would have bought a car.)
Type / Scenario
3. Urealistisk / Umulig (Variant B)(3. Unreal / Counterfactual (Option B))
Verb tense in 'if'-clause
Preteritum perfektum(Past perfect)
Verb tense in main clause
Modalverb i preteritum + (ha) + partisipp(Past modal + (ha) + participle)
Example (with translation)
Hvis jeg hadde hatt penger, ville jeg (ha) kjøpt en bil.(If I had had money, I would (have) bought a car.)
| Type / Scenario | Verb tense in 'if'-clause | Verb tense in main clause | Example (with translation) |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Ganske sannsynlig (Reell betingelse)1. Likely / Real condition | PresensPresent (Presens) | Presens / FramtidPresent / Future | Hvis du handler, lager jeg middag.If you do the shopping, I'll make dinner. |
2. Lite sannsynlig (Nåtid / Framtid)2. Unlikely (Present / Future) | PreteritumPast (Preteritum) | Modalverb i preteritum + infinitivPast modal verb + infinitive | Hvis jeg hadde penger, kunne jeg kjøpe en bil.If I had money, I could buy a car. |
3. Urealistisk / Umulig (Variant A)3. Unreal / Counterfactual (Option A) | Preteritum perfektumPast perfect | Preteritum perfektumPast perfect | Hvis jeg hadde hatt penger, hadde jeg kjøpt en bil.If I had had money, I would have bought a car. |
3. Urealistisk / Umulig (Variant B)3. Unreal / Counterfactual (Option B) | Preteritum perfektumPast perfect | Modalverb i preteritum + (ha) + partisippPast modal + (ha) + participle | Hvis jeg hadde hatt penger, ville jeg (ha) kjøpt en bil.If I had had money, I would (have) bought a car. |
In Norwegian, type 3 (past perfect) is used BOTH for past events that didn't happen AND for future scenarios considered wholly unrealistic: 'Hvis jeg hadde vært rik, hadde jeg reist jorda rundt'.
2. Word Order, Inversion & Mixed Conditionals
A. Subordinating conjunctions and clause structure:
Conditional clauses typically start with 'hvis' (or 'om' / 'dersom'). Sentence adverbs like 'ikke' precede the verb:
Hvis du ikke har tid, kan vi ta det i morgen.If you don't have time, we can do it tomorrow.
Hvis jeg ikke hadde fått den jobben, hadde jeg nok ikke likt meg så godt her.If I hadn't gotten that job, I probably wouldn't have liked living here so much.
B. Conditional clauses WITHOUT conjunction (Inversion):
In Norwegian, 'hvis' can be dropped entirely by placing the verb first (inversion):
Hadde jeg hatt penger, hadde jeg kjøpt bil. (= Hvis jeg hadde hatt penger...)Had I had money, I would have bought a car. (= If I had money...)
Var jeg deg, ville jeg takket ja til tilbudet.Were I you, I would accept the offer.
C. Mixed conditionals:
Hvis jeg hadde penger (type 2), kunne jeg kjøpt bil (type 3).If I had money (type 2), I could have bought a car (type 3).
Hvis du kommer i morgen (type 1), kunne vi reise på hytta (type 2).If you come tomorrow (type 1), we could go to the cabin (type 2).
3. Wish Clauses & Hypothetical Desires
To express desires contrary to current reality, use dedicated phrases paired with past tenses:
Examples:
Jeg skulle ønske at jeg kunne lage indisk mat!I wish I could cook Indian food!
Tenk om vi kunne (ha) vært på ei strand i Syden nå!Imagine if we could be on a sunny beach right now!
Om bare det sluttet å regne snart!If only it would stop raining soon!