2015-08-21
2514
A sentence can contain a principal clause & one or more subordinate clauses. A subordinate clause is a group of words containing a subject & verb & forming part of a sentence.
He knew that the bridge was unsafe.
The sequence of tenses is a certain dependence of the tense of the verb in a subordinate clause on that of the verb in the principal clause: if the verb in the principal clause is in one of the past tenses, a past tense (or future in the past) must be used in the subordinate clause. The rule is generally observed in object clauses.
I thought she were more tolerant.
I said we would go for a walk together.
But not only past tenses can be used. See the starred sentences below.
| Tense changes | ||
| I want to buy it. | He said that he wanted to buy it. He says that he wants to buy it. | Present Simple -------Past Simple Present Simple -------Present Simple |
| I’m writing a letter | He said he was writing a letter. He says he is writing a letter. | Present Continuous ------Past Continuous Present Continuous ------Present Continuous |
| I’ve come to mend your car. | He said he had come to mend my car. He says he has come to mend my car. | Present Perfect ----------Past Perfect. Present Perfect ----------Present Perfect. |
| I saw your brother. | He said he had seen my brother/ he saw my brother. | Past Indefinite -------Past Past Perfect (no need to change when the order of events is clear) |
| I was trying to do it. | He said he had been trying to do it. | Past Continuous -------Past Perfect Continuous |
| I’ll help you | He said he would help me. He says he will help me. | Will --------would Will --------will |
| I can do it. | He said he could do it. He says he can do it. | Can ----------could Can--------can |
| I may do it. | He said he might do it. He says he may do it. | May --------- might May --------- may |
| I must go. | He said he had to go. He says he has to go. | Must -------- had to (must) |
If the past action is expressed in the subordinate clause is simultaneous with that expressed in the principal clause, the Past Indefinite or the Past Continuous is used in the subordinate clause.
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We supposed they had a baby.
If the past action expressed in the subordinate clause is prior to that expressed in the principal clause, the Past Perfect is used in the subordinate clause:
He knew that she had been married before.
If the action expressed in the subordinate clause lasted a certain time before the action expressed in the principal clause, the Past Perfect Continuous or the Past Perfect Inclusive is used in the subordinate clause.
She realized that the old life he had lived in that city since boyhood was ended. (Dreiser)
If the action expressed in the subordinate clause is posterior to that of the principal clause the Future in the Past is used.
She knew they would come to their place.
If there are several subordinate clauses in a sentence, the rule of the sequence of tenses is observed in all of them.
As time went by I began to believe that I was lonely, that I wasn’t able to share my joy & sorrow & that I would never trust anyone in my life.
It is more preferable to use Past tenses in retelling some stories. It’s necessary to remember about the change of adverbials & demonstrative pronouns.
