1. Sequence of Tenses(시제의 일치) When the principal clause is in the past tense When the principal (main) clause is in the past tense, the verb in the subordinating clause also should be in the past tense. * He said (main clause) that he was not guilty (subordinate clause). * He asked (main clause) whether he might go home (subordinate clause). * She was so weak (main clause) that she could not stand (subordinate clause). Exceptions There are two exceptions to this rule. Read the following sentences. * Copernicus proved (main clause) that the earth moves round the sun (subordinate clause). * The preacher said (main clause) that there is only one God (subordinate clause). * The teacher said (main clause) that honesty is always the best policy (subordinate clause). The subordinate clauses in the examples given above indicate a universal truth. When the subordinate clause expresses a universal truth, it may be put in the present tense, even if the principal clause is in the past tense. Now consider the sentences given below. * He demanded a higher price (main clause) than I can pay (subordinate clause). * He liked him better (main clause) than he likes you (subordinate clause). The subordinate clauses in the sentences given above come after the comparative conjunction than. When the subordinate clause comes after than, it may be put in any tense required by the context. When the principal clause is in the present or future tense When the verb in the principal clause is in the present or future tense, the verb in the subordinate clause may be in any tense that the context requires. * I maintain (main clause) that he is honest (subordinate clause). * I maintain that he was honest. * I maintain that he will be honest. * I shall maintain (main clause) that he is honest (subordinate clause). * I shall maintain that he was honest. * I shall maintain that he will be honest. 2. Sequence of Tenses Strictly speaking, in English, only two tenses are marked in the verb alone, present (as in "he sings") and past (as in "he sang"). Other English language tenses, as many as thirty of them, are marked by other words called auxiliaries. Understanding the six basic tenses allows one to re-create much of the reality of time in his writing. The six are Simple Present: They walk Present Perfect: They have walked Simple Past: They walked Past Perfect: They had walked Future: They will walk Future Perfect: They will have walked Problems in sequencing tenses usually occur with the perfect tenses, all of which are formed by adding an auxiliary or auxiliaries to the past participle, the third principal part. The most common auxiliaries are forms of "be," "can," "do," "may," "must," "ought," "shall," "will," "has," "have," "had," and they are the forms we shall use in this most basic discussion. Present Perfect The present perfect consists of a past participle (the third principal part) with "has" or "have." It designates action which began in the past but which continues into the present or the effect of which still continues. 1. Betty taught for ten years. (simple past) 2. Betty has taught for ten years. (present perfect) The implication in (1) is that Betty has retired; in (2), that she is still teaching. 1. John did his homework. He can go to the movies. 2. If John has done his homework, he can go to the movies. Infinitives, too, have perfect tense forms when combined with "have," and sometimes problems arise when infinitives are used with verbs such as "hope," "plan," "expect," and "intend," all of which usually point to the future (I wanted to go to the movie. Janet meant to see the doctor.) The perfect tense sets up a sequence by marking the action which began and usually was completed before the action in the main verb. 1. I am happy to have participated in this campaign! 2. John had hoped to have won the trophy. Thus the action of the main verb points back in time; the action of the perfect infinitive has been completed. The past perfect tense designates action in the past just as simple past does, but the action of the past perfect is action completed in the past before another action. 1. John raised vegetables and later sold them. (past) 2. John sold vegetables that he had raised. (past perfect) The vegetables were raised before they were sold. 1. Renee washed the car when George arrived (simple past) 2. Renee had washed the car when George arrived. (past perfect) In (1), she waited until George arrived and then washed the car. In (2), she had already finished washing the car by the time he arrived. In sentences expressing condition and result, the past perfect tense is used in the part that states the condition. 1. If I had done my exercises, I would have passed the test. 2. I think George would have been elected if he hadn't sounded so pompous. Future Perfect Tense The future perfect tense designates action that will have been completed at a specified time in the future. 1. Saturday I will finish my housework. (simple future) 2. By Saturday noon, I will have finished my housework. (future perfect) Review 1. Judy saved thirty dollars. (past) 2. Judy will save thirty dollars. (future) 3. Judy has saved thirty dollars. (present perfect) 4. Judy had saved thirty dollars by the end of last month. (past perfect) 5. Judy will have saved thirty dollars by the end of this month. (future perfect) Notice: There can be only one "would have" action group in a sentence. 3. Sequence of Tenses The tense of a verb in the subordinate clause changes in accordance with the tense of the verb in the main clause. The basic rules are as follows: Rule 1 If the verb in the principal clause is in the present or the future tense, the verb in the subordinate clause may be in any tense, depending upon the sense to be expressed. He says that he is fine. He says that he was fine. He says that he will be fine. He will say that he is fine. He will say that he was fine. He will say that he will be fine. Rule 2 If the tense in the principal clause is in the past tense, the tense in the subordinate clause will be in the corresponding past tense. He said that he would come. He told me that he had been ill. I knew that he would not pass. We noticed that the fan had stopped. There are, nevertheless, a few exceptions to this rule. A past tense in the main clause may be followed by a present tense in the subordinate clause when the subordinate clause expresses some universal truth. Copernicus proved that the earth moves round the sun. The teacher told us that honesty is the best policy. He told me that the Hindus burn their dead. A subordinate clause expressing place, reason or comparison may be in any tense, according to the sense to be expressed. He didn’t get the job because his English isn’t good. A fishing village once existed where now lies the city of Mumbai. If the subordinate clause is an adjective clause, it may be in any tense as is required by the sense. Yesterday I met a man who sells balloons. Yesterday I met a man who sold me a balloon. Rule 3 Note that when the subordinate clause is introduced by the conjunction of purpose that, the following rules are observed. We use may in the subordinate clause when the main clause is in the present tense. We use might in the subordinate clause when the main clause is in the past tense. I study that I may pass. I will study that I may pass. I studied that I might pass. We eat that we may live. He ate that he might not die. Rule 4 If the principal clause is in the future tense, we do not use future tense in subordinating clauses beginning with when, until, before, after etc. I will call you when dinner is ready. (NOT I will call you when dinner will be ready.) I shall wait until you return. (NOT I shall wait until you will return.) Rule 5 Expressions such as as if, if only, it is time and wish that are usually followed by past tenses. I wish I was a bit taller. It is time we started working. He talks as if he knew everything..