_Zou_ (plural _zouden_) is how Dutch says "would". You use it to ask politely (_Zou je me kunnen helpen?_), to imagine things that are not real (_Als ik rijk was, zou ik minder werken_), to give advice (_Ik zou dat niet doen_) and, in the news, to report claims nobody has confirmed. Just like "would" in English, it comes with an infinitive (the basic form of a verb, such as _werken_), and Dutch puts that infinitive at the end of the clause.
The pattern
_Zou_ is the past tense of _zullen_, and it means "would". Use _zou_, or _zouden_ with a plural subject, plus an infinitive at the end of the clause.
- Forms: _ik, jij, u, hij, zij zou_; _wij, jullie, zij zouden_. In modern Dutch, _jij_ and _u_ get no extra -t.
- Word order: in a statement, _zou_ is the second element and the infinitive goes last. In a question, _zou_ comes first. In a subordinate clause, both verbs go to the end: _Je zei dat je zou bellen._ See [the verb bracket](#/lesson/verb-bracket).
- Polite wishes and requests: _Ik zou graag ..._ (you can add _willen_: _Ik zou graag een kamer willen reserveren_) and _Zou je ... kunnen ...?_
- Hypothetical (imagined) situations: _als_ with the simple past, then _zou_ in the main clause. _Als ik meer tijd zou hebben_ is also correct, just heavier. For "would have", see [the unreal past](#/lesson/unreal-past).
- Advice: _Ik zou ..._ means "if I were you". _Je zou ... moeten_ means "you should".
- News: _zou_ marks a claim, not a fact. For the past, add a perfect infinitive (past participle plus _hebben_ or _zijn_). If you know German, this is "soll". Dutch _moet_ here would mean "must have".
Examples
| Ik zou graag een kamer voor twee nachten reserveren. | I would like to book a room for two nights. |
|---|---|
| Zou je de deur dicht kunnen doen? Het tocht. | Could you close the door? There's a draught. |
| Zou u mij even met dit formulier kunnen helpen? | Could you help me with this form for a moment? |
| Als ik meer tijd had, zou ik vaker sporten. | If I had more time, I would exercise more often. |
| Als we een auto hadden, zouden we niet elke dag met de trein gaan. | If we had a car, we wouldn't take the train every day. |
| Ik zou die fiets niet kopen, want hij is veel te duur. | I wouldn't buy that bike, because it's far too expensive. |
| Je zou eens met de buren over het lawaai moeten praten. | You should talk to the neighbours about the noise. |
| Je zei toch dat je om acht uur zou komen? | You said you would come at eight, didn't you? |
| De minister zou het geweten hebben. | The minister is said to have known. |
| Volgens omwonenden zou de brand in de keuken zijn begonnen. | According to local residents, the fire reportedly started in the kitchen. |
Why it works this way
Think of _zou_ as [_zullen_](#/lesson/zullen) taking one step back. A past form creates distance, and Dutch uses that distance in four ways. It can step back in time (_je zei dat je zou komen_) or away from reality (_als ik tijd had_). It can step away from bluntness: _Zou je ...?_ sounds softer than _Kun je ...?_. And it can step away from responsibility: a journalist who writes _zou_ is saying "others claim this, I can't confirm it yet".
English "would" works in much the same way, which is good news for you. One difference: English also uses "would" for past habits ("every Sunday we would visit Grandma"). Dutch uses the simple past for that: _Elke zondag gingen we bij oma langs._
Remember: _zou_ is _zullen_ one step back, from now, from reality, from bluntness or from the facts.
Watch out
- Not: _Wij zou graag een afspraak maken_ Say: _Wij zouden graag een afspraak maken_ (with _wij_, _jullie_ and _zij_ it is _zouden_)
- Not: _Ik zou graag reserveren een tafel voor vier_ Say: _Ik zou graag een tafel voor vier reserveren_ (the infinitive goes to the end, unlike English)
- Not: _Als het niet regende, we zouden gaan fietsen_ Say: _Als het niet regende, zouden we gaan fietsen_ (after an _als_-clause, the main clause starts with its verb)
- Not: _Ik zou hebben gekomen, maar de trein viel uit_ Say: _Ik zou zijn gekomen, maar de trein viel uit_ (_komen_ takes _zijn_, also after _zou_)
Quick check
- Fill in _zou_ or _zouden_: _Mei en Joris ... graag een tafel voor zes personen reserveren._
- Fix the word order: _Als ik in Utrecht woonde, ik zou elke dag naar mijn werk fietsen._
- Ahmed has had a headache for a week and asks: _Wat zou jij doen?_ Choose _zal_ or _zou_: _Ik ... eerst even de huisarts bellen._
- A news report about a rumour nobody has confirmed. Choose _zullen_ or _zouden_: _De twee ministers ... al maanden ruzie hebben._
Answers
- _zouden_: _Mei en Joris_ is a plural subject.
- _Als ik in Utrecht woonde, zou ik elke dag naar mijn werk fietsen._ After a [subordinate clause at the start](#/lesson/subclause-first), the main clause starts with its verb.
- _zou_: you are giving advice. _Ik zal ..._ would announce your own plan.
- _zouden_: news style for an unconfirmed claim, with a plural subject.
Use it today
Next time you phone your GP's practice, a hotel or the _gemeente_, open with _Ik zou graag ..._ and ask one thing with _Zou u ... kunnen ...?_. Write both sentences down before you dial.