The sequence of tenses

In extended speech or writing we usually select a governing tense which affects all other tense forms. The problem of the 'sequence of tenses' is not confined to indirect speech [> 15.5]. Our choice of tense may be influenced by the following factors:

9.5.1 Consistency in the use of tenses
If we start a narrative or description from the point of view of now, we
usually maintain 'now' as our viewpoint. This results in the following
combinations:

- present (simple/progressive) accords with present perfect/future:
Our postman usually delivers our mail at 7 every morning
It's nearly lunch-time and the mail still hasn't arrived I suppose
the mail will come soon. Perhaps our postman is ill

If we start a narrative or description from the point of view of then, we usually maintain 'then' as our viewpoint. This results in the following combinations:

- past (simple/progressive) accords with past perfect:
When I lived in London the postman usually delivered our mail at 7
every morning Usually no one in our household had got up when
the mail arrived

The proximity rule

A present tense in the main clause (for example, in a reporting verb) normally attracts a present tense in the subordinate clause:

He tells me he's a good tennis-player A past tense normally attracts another past:

He told me he was a good tennis-player

9 Verbs verb tenses imperatives

In the second example only a more complete context would tell us

whether he was a good tennis player refers to the past (i e when he

was a young man) or to present time A speaker or writer can ignore

the proximity rule and use a present tense after a past or a past

after a present in order to be more precise

He told me he is a good tennis-player (i e he still is)

He tells me he used to be a good tennis player

However combinations such as you say you are or you told me you

were tend to form themselves automatically That is why we can refer

to the idea of sequence of tenses in which present usually combines

with present and past usually combines with past

Particular tense sequences

Refer to the following for particular tense sequences

Indirect speech [> Chapter 15]

Conditional sentences [> Chapter 14]

Temporal clauses [> 1.45.2]

After wish etc [> 11.41-43] I’d rather [> 11.45]

Clauses of purpose [> 1.51]

The simple present tense

Form of the simple present tense

We add s or es to the base form of the verb in the third person singular

/ work

You work

He works

She works in an office

It works

We work

You work

They work