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In English, we signal the shift from the "here and now" to a tentative
or hypothetical state by shifting tense forms. Compare:
| HYPOTHETICAL PRESENT |
| If I had a book now, I would be reading it. |
| "HERE AND NOW" PRESENT |
| He has a book reading and he is reading it. |
Germans use a special verb form called the subjunctive to signal this shift. The shift in and out of subjunctive is not a shift of time, but a shift between "real" and "hypothetical." The forms to signal "real" are called indicative. Note that the following sentence halves both refer to a present state of affairs, despite the differences of meaning between ‘ate’ and ‘don’t eat.’
| HYPOTHETICAL |
REAL |
| If I were you... |
but I’m not. |
| If vegetarians ate meat... |
but they don’t. |
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