The use of verb forms after different introductory verbs

SEQUENCES OF TENSES AND REPORTED SPEECH

The main rule:

When the predicate of the main clause is used in one of the past tenses, the predicates of all the subordinate clauses of the same sentence are also used in one of the past tenses.

1. Mind the changes that happen to tenses if they occur after the past verb in the main clause:

Present Indefinite Past Indefinite

e.g. I think John is in love with me. e.g. I though John was in love with me.

Present Continuous Past Continuous

e.g.I think Mary is cooking. e.g. I though Mary was cooking.

Present Perfect Past Perfect

e.g.I think David has finished his essay. e.g. I though David had finished his essay.

Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous

e.g.I think Julia has been working e.g. I though Julia had been working

in the garden since morning. in the garden since morning.

Past Indefinite Past Perfect

e.g.I think Philip knew Mary in the past. e.g. I though Philip had known Mary in the past.

Past Continuous Past Continuous/ Past Perfect Continuous

e.g.I think Laura was sleeping e.g. I though Laura was sleeping/ had been sleeping

when we came. when we came

.

Future Indefinite Future Indefinite in the Past

(will/shall) (would/should)

e.g.I think Eddie will pass his exam e.g.I thought Eddie would pass his exam

Future Continuous Future Continuous in the Past

e.g.I think Joanne will be sailing e.g.I thought Joanne would be sailing

this time next week. this time next week.

Future Perfect Future Perfect in the Past

e.g.I think Meg will have knitted this e.g.I thought Meg would have knitted this

sweater by Christmas. sweater by Christmas.

Future Perfect Continuous Future Perfect Continuous in the Past

e.g.I think Ted will have been mending e.g.I thought Ted would been mending

his car for 3 hours when I come. his car for 3 hours when I came.

Notes:

· Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous remain unchanged.

· In spoken English all the abovementioned changes may not be observed.

· Sequence of Tenses is not observed when the subordinate clause contains:

a) the so-called “general truths”,

e.g. Looking at the night sky we suddenly realized that our solar system is just a tiny speck in the infinite Universe.

b) the description of a state of affairs which still exists when the speech is reported, the so-called ‘up-to-date reporting’,

e.g. Pat said, “I decided not to buy that house because it was on a main road.” Pat told that she decided not to buy that house because it was on a main road.

c) Modal verbs that have no past tenses like must, need, should, etc,

e.g. Marge phoned me and cried that I must come at once.

d) newspaper, radio and TV reports,

e.g. Before the plane crashed, the pilot told that he can see the lights of the take off.

e) conjunction “since”,

e.g. Jane said, “”I have been writing an essay since you left.” - Jane told that she had been writing an essay since we left.

f) Past Indefinite that shows an action taking place at a definite moment

e.g. Susan said, “I had left home before the telegram came.” Susan told that she had left home before the telegram came.

David said, “When we were living (lived) in France, we used to go to the sea very often.” - David told that when they were living (lived) in France, they used to go to the sea very often.”

g) Subjunctive Mood,

e.g. Julian said, “I wish I could pass all my exams easily.” Julian told that he wished he could pass all his exams easily.

the use of verb forms after different introductory verbs

Introductory verb	Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
+ to infinitive · to agree · to offer · to promise · to refuse · to threaten	Jim said, ‘Yes, I’ll lend you some money.’ Tom said, ‘Can I help you? Dick said,’ I’ll give your book back.’ Jean said, ‘No, I won’t call mum.’ Dad said, ‘I’ll punish you.’	Jim agreed to lend me some money. “Tom offered to help me. Dick promised to give my book back. Jean refused to call mum. Dad threatened to punish me.
+ object + to infinitive · to advise · to allow · to ask · to beg · to command · to forbid · to invite · to order · to remind · to warn	Mum said, ‘You should eat more fruit.’ Dad said, ‘Y can go to the party.’ Teddy said, ‘Could you do me a favour?’ The child said, ‘Doctor, please, don’t hurt me.’ The officer said, ‘Stand still.’ Mum said, ‘You mustn’t stay out late.’ Jenny said, ‘Will you come to my party?’ Dad said. ‘Go to your room.’ Mum said, ‘Don’t forget to buy bread.’ Blue Beard said, ‘Don’t touch this key.’	Mum advised me to eat more fruit. Dad allowed me to go to the party. Teddy asked me to do him a favour. ‘The child begged the doctor not to hurt him. ‘The officer commanded the soldiers to stand still. ‘Mum forbade me to stay out late. ‘Jenny invited me to come to her party. ‘Dad ordered me to go to my room. ‘Mum reminded me not to forget to buy bread. Blue Beard warned his wife not to touch that key.
+ gerund · apologise for · to boast about/of · to complain (to smb) of smth · to deny · to suggest · to insist on	Sam said, “I’m sorry, I’m late.’ Sue said, “I’m very pretty.’ Mum said, ‘We have noisy neighbours.’ Derek said, “I didn’t use your computer.’ Steve said, ‘Let’s go out to dinner.’ The boss said, ‘You must finish this report by Friday.’	Sam apologised for being late. Sue boasted of being pretty. Mum complained of having noisy neighbours. Derek denied using my computer. Steve suggested (our) going out to dinner. The boss insisted on me (my) finishing the report by Friday.
+ that clause · to boast · to complain · to deny · to explain to smb · to inform · to exclaim · to remark · to promise · to remind · to threaten	Sue said, “I’m very pretty’. Mum said, ‘We have noisy neighbours.’ Derek said, “I didn’t use your computer.’ Mary said, ‘I don’t like him because he is rude.’ The teacher said, ‘The exam result will come out tomorrow.’ Len said, ‘What a glorious day!’ Dick said,’ I’ll give your book back.’ Mum said, ‘Don’t forget to buy bread.’ Dad said, ‘I’ll punish you.’	Sue boasted that she was very pretty. Mum complained that we had noisy neighbours. Derek denied that he had used my computer. Mary explained that she didn’t like him because he was rude. The teacher informed us that the exam result would come out the next day. Len exclaimed/remarked that it was a glorious day. Dick promised that he would give me my book back. Mum reminded me that I had to buy bread. Dad threatened that he would punish me.
+ that + should + bare infinitive · to suggest · to insist · to demand	The monitor said, ‘Let’s have a class meeting tomorrow.’ The boss said, ‘You must finish this report by Friday.’ The teacher said, ‘You have to hand in your papers on Monday.	The monitor suggested that our class should have a meeting the next day. The boss insisted that I should finish that report by Friday. ‘The teacher demanded that we should hand in our papers on Monday.

*TASK 69. Complete the sentence. Follow the example.

Example. 'You should spend more time studying,' - The teacher advised me to spend more time studying.

1. 'Don't forget to lock the door before you leave.' - Sam reminded ____________

2. 'I'm sorry I forgot to call you.' - Jim apologized ____________

3. 'You never listen to me. Stuart.' - Mary complained ____________

4. 'Shall we go bowling this evening?' - Mark suggested ____________

5. 'You mustn't play near the road.' - Father forbade ____________

6. 'This man stole my wallet!' – Mr. Brown accused ____________

7. 'I'm the best basketball player in the school.' - Steve boasted ____________

8. 'Yes, I took the letter.' - Claire admitted ____________

9. 'You must stay for lunch, Sarah.' – Mrs. Stamp insisted ____________

10. 'Please, please, let me borrow your bicycle.' - Martin begged ____________

11. 'Don't touch the oven. It's hot.' - Mother warned ____________

**TASK 70. Fill in the gaps with one of the introductory verbs from the list below. Follow the example.

Example. 'I'm the fastest runner on the team,' he said. – He boasted about (of) being the fastest runner on the team.

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 958

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