The Sequence of Tenses
Sequence of Tenses
The Sequence of tenses refers to the relationship between the tenses in a sentence, particularly when there are multiple clauses with different tenses.
The basic principle behind the sequence of tenses is that the tense used in a subordinate clause (a clause that depends on or is part of another clause) is influenced by the tense used in the main clause.
Some examples to illustrate how the sequence of tenses works:
Present tense in the main clause:
If the main clause is in the present tense, then the subordinate clause can use any tense that is appropriate to convey the meaning.
For example: She says that she is happy. (present tense in the main clause and present tense in the subordinate clause)
He knows that he will be late. (present tense in the main clause and future tense in the subordinate clause)
They think that it was a mistake. (present tense in the main clause and past tense in the subordinate clause)
Past tense in the main clause:
If the main clause is in the past tense, then the subordinate clause usually uses a past tense as well.
For example: He said that he was tired. (past tense in the main clause and past tense in the subordinate clause)
She told me that she had seen the movie. (past tense in the main clause and past perfect tense in the subordinate clause)
They knew that the party had already started. (past tense in the main clause and past perfect tense in the subordinate clause)
Future tense in the main clause:
If the main clause is in the future tense, then the subordinate clause can use any tense that is appropriate to convey the meaning.
For example: She will tell you when she arrives. (future tense in the main clause and present tense in the subordinate clause)
They will find out if they get the job. (future tense in the main clause and present tense in the subordinate clause)
He will ask her if she wants to go. (future tense in the main clause and present tense in the subordinate clause)
The sequence of tenses is an important aspect of grammar to be aware of in order to ensure that sentences are grammatically correct and convey the intended meaning.
Some examples of sentences in the past tense with sequence of tenses:
After she finished her work, she told me that she had been feeling sick all day. (past perfect tense in the subordinate clause to indicate an earlier action)
When I saw him at the party, he told me that he had just got back from a trip. (past perfect tense in the subordinate clause to indicate an earlier action)
I was surprised when she said that she didn’t like the movie because I had thought she would enjoy it. (past perfect tense in the subordinate clause to indicate a previous belief or expectation)
When they arrived at the restaurant, they were told that the table had already been taken. (past perfect tense in the subordinate clause to indicate an earlier action)
He said that he would help me with the project, but he didn’t follow through. (past tense in the main clause and future in the subordinate clause)
In each of these examples, the verb tense used in the subordinate clause is influenced by the tense used in the main clause to maintain the sequence of tenses.
In the sequence of tenses, when the main clause is in the past tense and the subordinate clause refers to a future action, the subordinate clause typically uses the present tense or the future tense, depending on the meaning that the speaker or writer intends to convey.
Some examples of sentences in the past tense with a future action in the subordinate clause:
He said that he would call me tomorrow. (past tense in the main clause and future tense in the subordinate clause)
She told me that she was going to study abroad next year. (past tense in the main clause and present continuous tense in the subordinate clause to indicate a future plan)
When we were planning the trip, he said that he would book the hotel reservations. (past tense in the main clause and future tense in the subordinate clause)
I knew that they were going to announce the winners of the contest next week. (past tense in the main clause and future tense in the subordinate clause)
They said that they were going to have a meeting to discuss the new project. (past tense in the main clause and future tense in the subordinate clause)
In these examples, the verb tense used in the subordinate clause is determined by the meaning and the time frame of the action being described.
The present tense is used to indicate a future event that is certain or scheduled, while the future tense is used to describe a future event that is less certain or dependent on a condition being met.
In compound sentences with two subordinate clauses, the sequence of tenses can become more complex.
In general, the tense used in each subordinate clause is determined by its relationship to the main clause and the other subordinate clause.
An example of a compound sentence with two subordinate clauses and the appropriate sequence of tenses:
When I met her, she told me that she was studying psychology and that she wanted to become a therapist. (past tense in the main clause and past tense in both subordinate clauses)
In this sentence, both subordinate clauses are in the past tense because they both describe actions that were completed before the main clause.
However, the second subordinate clause (that she wanted to become a therapist) could have used the future tense (that she would like to become a therapist) if the speaker wanted to convey the idea that her desire to become a therapist was a future plan or goal.
Another example:
After I finish my work today, I will call my parents and tell them that I am planning to visit them next month. (present tense in the main clause, future tense in the first subordinate clause, and present continuous tense in the second subordinate clause to indicate a future plan)
In this sentence, the first subordinate clause uses the future tense because it describes an action that will happen after the main clause.
The second subordinate clause uses the present continuous tense to describe a future plan that is already in progress.
The tense used in each clause is determined by its relationship to the other clauses in the sentence and the intended meaning.
If the actions in both subordinate clauses occurred at the same time, then the verb tense used in each clause would depend on their relationship to the main clause and the intended meaning of the sentence.
An example of a sentence with two subordinate clauses that describe actions happening at the same time:
He said that he was cooking dinner while she was setting the table. (past tense in the main clause and past continuous tense in both subordinate clauses)
In this sentence, both subordinate clauses use the past continuous tense to describe actions that were happening at the same time in the past.
The verb tense used in each clause is determined by their relationship to the main clause, which is also in the past tense.
Another example:
I will text you when I am leaving and when I arrive. (present tense in the main clause and present continuous tense in both subordinate clauses to indicate future plans)
In this sentence, both subordinate clauses use the present continuous tense to describe actions that will happen at the same time in the future.
The verb tense used in each clause is determined by their relationship to the main clause, which is in the present tense.
In both of these examples, the verb tense used in each clause is chosen to accurately convey the relationship between the actions being described and their time frame in relation to the main clause.
The present participle can be used to describe an action that is happening simultaneously with the action in the main clause, or to describe a continuous action that occurred before the action in the main clause.
Some examples of sentences with present participles in the subordinate clause:
She heard him singing while she was cooking dinner. (past tense in the main clause, and present participle in the subordinate clause to describe an action happening simultaneously)
He remembered seeing her at the party last year. (past tense in the main clause, and present participle in the subordinate clause to describe a completed action in the past)
In these examples, the present participle is used to add additional detail to the action being described in the subordinate clause.
The verb tense used in the subordinate clause is still determined by the sequence of tenses, which depends on the relationship between the subordinate clause and the main clause.
It is worth noting that the use of the present participle in the subordinate clause is just one option among many, and the specific verb tense used will depend on the intended meaning of the sentence and the relationship between the subordinate clause and the main clause.
The sequence of tenses is a set of grammatical rules that dictate how the tense of a verb in a sentence should be changed when the tense of the verb in the main clause changes.
In general, when a main clause contains a verb in the past tense, any subordinate clause that follows should use a tense that is backshifted from the tense that would be used if the subordinate clause were in the present tense.
However, there are some cases where the sequence of tenses cannot be followed, and where an exception must be made.
Exceptions for Sequence of Tenses:
One common example of this is when the subordinate clause expresses a universal truth, a fact that is always true regardless of the time frame being considered.
In this case, the tense of the verb in the subordinate clause does not need to be backshifted, because the truth it expresses is always true.
For example: She said that the Earth revolves around the sun. (not She said that the Earth revolved around the sun.)
Another example of an exception to the sequence of tenses is when the subordinate clause expresses a future event that is certain to happen, even if it hasn’t happened yet.
In this case, the tense of the verb in the subordinate clause should not be backshifted.
For example: He promised that he will come to the party. (not He promised that he would come to the party.)
There may be other exceptions to the sequence of tenses depending on the specific context of the sentence, but in general, these exceptions are made to ensure that the meaning of the sentence is clear and accurate.
A few more examples of exceptions to the sequence of tenses:
When reporting a statement that is still true in the present:
She told me that she loves ice cream. (not She told me that she loved ice cream.)
When reporting a fact or general truth that remains unchanged:
He believes that the sun rises in the east. (not He believed that the sun rose in the east.)
When expressing a hypothetical or counterfactual condition:
If he were taller, he could reach the top shelf. (not If he had been taller, he could have reached the top shelf.)
When expressing a wish or a suggestion:
She suggested that he take a break. (not She suggested that he took a break.)
When expressing a command or request in indirect speech:
She asked him to be quiet. (not She asked him to have been quiet.)
It’s important to note that these exceptions are based on the context and meaning of the sentence, and should be used carefully to ensure that the intended meaning is conveyed accurately.
click here The Sequence of Tenses
click here The Passive voice with a formal subject It
click here The Group of Tenses of the Passive Voice
click here The Tenses of Passive Voice
click here The Indicative Mood-the Passive Voice
click here Transitive and Intransitive Verbs