Conditional Sentences in Danish

Overview

Conditional Sentences (Konditionalsætninger) is an important grammar concept at the B2 level in Danish. Real conditions (hvis + present), unreal present (hvis + preteritum), unreal past (hvis + havde + participle).

At the upper-intermediate level, understanding this concept allows you to express yourself with greater accuracy and nuance. This grammar point builds on foundations you have established at earlier levels and connects to several related areas of Danish grammar.

As you work through this topic, pay attention to how it functions in authentic Danish texts and conversations. The patterns you learn here will become more natural with regular practice and exposure to the language.

How It Works

Core rules

Real conditions (hvis + present), unreal present (hvis + preteritum), unreal past (hvis + havde + participle).

Key patterns

Danish	English
Hvis du kommer, bliver jeg glad.	If you come, I'll be happy.
Hvis jeg havde penge, ville jeg rejse.	If I had money, I would travel.
Hvis jeg havde vidst, ville jeg være kommet.	If I had known, I would have come.
Havde jeg tid, ville jeg hjælpe.	Had I time, I would help.

Three types of conditional sentences

Type	If-clause	Main clause	Example
Real (likely)	hvis + present	present/future	Hvis du kommer, bliver jeg glad.
Unreal present	hvis + preteritum	ville + infinitive	Hvis jeg havde penge, ville jeg rejse.
Unreal past	hvis + past perfect	ville have + participle	Hvis jeg havde vidst, ville jeg vaere kommet.

Inverted conditionals (omitting hvis)

With hvis	Without hvis (inverted)
Hvis jeg havde tid...	Havde jeg tid...
Hvis du havde vidst...	Havde du vidst...
Hvis man kunne...	Kunne man...

Examples in Context

Danish	English	Note
Hvis du kommer, bliver jeg glad.	If you come, I'll be happy.
Hvis jeg havde penge, ville jeg rejse.	If I had money, I would travel.
Hvis jeg havde vidst, ville jeg være kommet.	If I had known, I would have come.
Havde jeg tid, ville jeg hjælpe.	Had I time, I would help.

Common Mistakes

Transferring English patterns directly

• Wrong: Using English word order or structure when expressing conditional sentences in Danish.
• Right: Follow Danish-specific rules for this grammar point.
• Why: Danish and English handle conditional sentences differently. Learning the Danish pattern as its own system prevents interference from English.

Neglecting subordinate clause word order

• Wrong: Keeping main clause word order when conditional sentences appears in a subordinate clause.
• Right: Remember that adverbs like ikke move before the verb in subordinate clauses.
• Why: The main clause/subordinate clause word order distinction is fundamental in Danish and affects how all grammar structures are used.

Overgeneralizing rules

• Wrong: Applying one pattern to all cases of conditional sentences without considering exceptions.
• Right: Learn both the regular patterns and the common exceptions.
• Why: Danish grammar has regular patterns but also important exceptions, particularly with frequently used words.

Practice Tips

• Analyze authentic texts. Read Danish newspaper articles or literature and identify all instances of conditional sentences. Note the contexts and nuances of each usage.
• Write formal and informal versions. Practice expressing the same idea using conditional sentences in different registers: a text message to a friend versus an email to a colleague.
• Record yourself speaking. Talk about a topic for two minutes, focusing on using conditional sentences correctly. Listen back and note areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Conditional Mood - Parent concept