Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Deze les leert je de reële voorwaarde met 'als' + tegenwoordige tijd, bijvoorbeeld 'Als het regent' en de hoofdzin in toekomende tijd of imperatief, zoals 'zullen we binnen blijven' of 'bel me dan'.
  1. Use the reële voorwaarde in situations that are possible or probable in the future.
  2. The main clause often follows the condition, but it may also come first.
 Voorwaarde (Condition)Hoofdzin (Main clause)
Structuur (Structure)Als + tegenwoordige tijd toekomende tijd
Voorbeelden (Examples)Als het regent, zullen we binnen blijven. (If it rains, we will stay inside.)
Structuur (Structure)Als + tegenwoordige tijdimperatief
Voorbeelden (Examples)Als je tijd hebt, bel me dan. (If you have time, call me then.)

Exceptions!

  1. The word 'dan' is often used with an imperative.
  2. The main clause describes the result, not the condition.

Exercise 1: De reële voorwaarde

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

roep, uitnodigt, schenk, kom, zal, zullen

1.
Als je vrienden ..., zal het een gezellige avond worden.
(If you invite friends, it will be a cosy evening.)
2.
Als je komt, ... we kaartspelletjes spelen.
(If you come, we will play card games.)
3.
Als het diner klaar is, ... dan iedereen aan tafel.
(When the dinner is ready, call everyone to the table.)
4.
Als je op tijd komt, ... we beginnen met het bordspel.
(If you arrive on time, we will start with the board game.)
5.
Als je mijn vriend wilt ontmoeten, ... ik hem uitnodigen.
(If you want to meet my boyfriend, I will invite him.)
6.
Als je zin hebt in een gezellige borrel, ... dan langs.
(If you're in the mood for a convivial drink, come by.)
7.
Als je er zin hebt, ... we een schaakspel spelen.
(If you feel like it, we will play a game of chess.)
8.
Als je iets wil geven, ... dan een bos bloemen.
(If you want to give something, then give a bouquet of flowers.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence with a real condition that describes a possible situation in the future.

1.
The condition uses past tense (had); for a real condition, it must be present tense.
The condition contains a future tense form (will have), which is incorrect; for real conditions, we always use present tense.
2.
Here the imperative is used in the main clause, but it's a less suitable future expression than a verb in the future tense for this exercise.
The condition is in past tense (had); for real conditions, this must be present tense.
3.
The word order is incorrect; 'will' must come before the main verb.
The subordinate clause incorrectly uses the future tense ('will rain'); for real conditions you use the present tense.
4.
The word order in the main clause is incorrect; this is not a correct sentence structure in Dutch.
The condition is in past tense ('were'), which is incorrect for a real condition.

The Real Condition (De reële voorwaarde) in Dutch

This lesson explains how to express realistic and likely conditions in Dutch, focusing on possible or probable situations in the future. You will learn the structure of sentences that use a 'real condition' and see how the verb tenses are used to connect the condition with its outcome.

Understanding the Sentence Structure

The real condition typically uses the present tense (tegenwoordige tijd) in the conditional clause (voorwaarde), introduced by "als" (if). The main clause (hoofdzin) then expresses the expected result, often using the future tense (toekomende tijd) or an imperative.

Condition (Voorwaarde)Main Clause (Hoofdzin)
StructureAls + present tenseFuture tense
ExampleAls het regent, zullen we binnen blijven.
StructureAls + present tenseImperative
ExampleAls je tijd hebt, bel me dan.

Key Points

  • The condition clause uses present tense, never past or future tense.
  • The main clause describes the result, often with the future tense or a command (imperative).
  • The word "dan" is used frequently in sentences with an imperative for clarity.
  • The condition clause and the main clause can switch places in the sentence.

Examples Highlighted

"Als het regent, zullen we binnen blijven." means "If it rains, we will stay inside." Here, "regent" is present tense and "zullen blijven" indicates the future.

In "Als je tijd hebt, bel me dan.", "heb" is present tense, and "bel me dan" is a command telling someone to call if they have time, illustrating use with an imperative.

Notes on Language Differences and Useful Phrases

In Dutch, the present tense is used for conditions referring to the future, unlike in English where "will" might sometimes appear in the if-clause. For example, Dutch says "Als ik tijd heb" (If I have time), not "Als ik tijd zal hebben". The main clause then can use the future tense or imperative to express the consequence.

Useful words and expressions for this construction include:

  • Als: If
  • Dan: Then (used especially with imperatives)
  • Heb: Have (present tense of hebben)
  • Bel: Call (imperative form)
  • Zullen: Will / shall (used for future tense)

Try to remember the correct verb order in the sentence, and that the condition uses present tense regardless of the time frame implied.

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 17:04