When discussing alternate histories or parallel universes, we often start our thoughts with "What if...?" or "Imagine that...!". In Swedish, these expressions use the imperative form of att tänka (to think): tänk.
Both tänk om and tänk att introduce subordinate clauses, meaning they follow standard subclause word order: Subject + (Sentence Adverb) + Verb.
Tänk om (What if)
Tänk om means "what if" and introduces hypothetical scenarios, wishes, or fears. You can use the present tense for future possibilities, or past tenses for alternate histories.
| What if someone invents a time machine tomorrow! | Tänk om någon uppfinner en tidsmaskin imorgon! |
| What if we changed the timeline in the past? | Tänk om vi ändrade tidslinjen i dåtiden? |
| What if one had invented the computer in the past! | Tänk om man hade uppfunnit datorn i dåtiden! |
Tänk att (Imagine that)
Tänk att translates to "Imagine that...!" or "To think that...!" and expresses wonder, surprise, or disbelief about something true. In the last example below, notice how the sentence adverb (faktiskt) comes before the verb (existerar), following the subclause word order rule.
| Imagine that such a tool can exist! | Tänk att ett sådant verktyg kan existera! |
| Imagine that she invented a machine that predicts the future! | Tänk att hon uppfann en maskin som förutsäger framtiden! |
| Imagine that infinite worlds actually exist! | Tänk att oändliga världar faktiskt existerar! |