The study uses a broad empirical database to clarify the variable time reference and modal reading (""unreal""/""potential"") of non-past related (i.e. temporally refunctioned) forms such as 'wa?re gekommen' [would have come] (e.g. 'Morgen wa?re sie gekommen' [She would have come tomorrow]) and differences in meaning compared with forms such as 'ka?me/wu?rde kommen' [would come]. The study concludes with a survey of the temporal refunctioning of the past subjunctive back into the 16th century.