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Conditional
sentences
130
When the modal verb is combined with a separable verb, the separable
infinitive can appear separated by the modal verb or not. Example:
Zou je me vanavond even op kunnen bellen?
Could you call me tonight?
Alternative: Zou je me vanavond even kunnen opbellen?
Note: The separated form is more common in speech.
Conditional sentences expressing friendly advice
The same form of the conditional, zou in an infinitive construction combined
with one or more modal verbs and a main verb (as in examples 1–4
below) or a main verb alone (as in examples 5 and 6 below), is used to
give friendly or formal advice. Examples:
1 Je zou minder televisie moeten kijken.
You should watch less TV.
2 U zou een spaarrekening kunnen openen.
You could open a savings account.
3 Je zou je haar moeten laten knippen.
You should have a haircut.
4 Jullie zouden niet altijd zo moeten zeuren over het weer.
You shouldn’t always complain about the weather.
5 Ik zou die auto niet kopen.
I wouldn’t buy that car.
6 Zou je dat nou wel doen?
Do you really want to do that?
Conditional sentences expressing uncertainty
A conditional sentence can also be used to express one’s uncertainty about
a situation or information that one has heard or read. Examples in context:
Sanne: Zou het morgen gaan regenen, denk je?
Do you think it’ll rain tomorrow?
Erik: Ik weet niet. Het zou kunnen.
I don’t know. Possibly.
Sanne: Zou dat waar zijn, wat er in de krant staat over die aanslag
op die moskee?
Do you think that’s true, what it says in the paper about that
attack on that mosque?