ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Hypothetical question

Alright kiddo, let's imagine you have a really fun imagination game. Sometimes you like to ask "What if..." questions and try to imagine what might happen in different situations.

A hypothetical question is just like a "What if..." question, but with a little more structure. A hypothetical question usually starts with the word "if" and proposes a situation that might not be real or true, but is just being imagined for the sake of the game. For example, "If you could fly like a bird, where would you go first?"

When people ask or think about hypothetical questions, it helps them to exercise their creativity and think outside the box. They might also use hypothetical questions to figure out what they would do if they were in a tricky situation or to explore different opinions about a topic.

So, imaginary friend, the next time someone asks you a "What if..." or "If you could..." question, give it a try and see where your imagination takes you!