Modal Verbs and Sequence of Tenses

can → may → → must →

could might must/had to

should ought to

→ do not change

Subjunctive Mood and Sequence of Tenses: (no changes of tenses)

were (was) should do would help knew

→ do not change

could have done might have done should/would have done

→ do not change

 

Ex. 2. Make the actions of the following object clauses simultaneous with those of the principal clauses.

Model: I was surprised that he (not to know) my name.

I was surprised that he didn’t know my name.

 

1. I have never believed that she (leave) the country for good.

2. I thought you (study) at university.

3. When I knew him better, he admitted that he (feel) lonely in our town.

4. The children were told that it (be) dangerous to skate on the lake in such weather.

5. We didn’t know where he (be) and what he (do).

6. He said that he (drive) a car very well and never (violate) the traffic rules.

7. Suddenly I noticed that he (not to listen) to me.

8. He explained that he (know) nothing about it.

9. My first thought was where we (be) and what it all (mean).

10. He complained that now they (pay) him ten dollars a week less.

11. He told his new friends that he (not to play) any musical instrument, but I knew he (play) the piano well.

12. I always knew that one (can, never, rely) on him.

 

Ex. 3. Make the actions in the following object clauses prior to those of the principal ones. Use the proper tense and voice forms.

Model: I had a feeling that I (be deceived).

I had a feeling that I had been deceived.

 

1. Even now I can’t realize what he (try) to prove all that time.

2. Mother didn’t want to tell her daughter that their parrot (fly) away.

3. The doctor tried to persuade the parents that nothing serious (happen) to their child.

4. One day he told me why he never (get married). But I knew all his ups and downs that (take) place in his life.

5. Nobody knew where he (spend) his childhood.

6. The teacher explained why W. Shakespeare (leave) Stratford and (go) to live to London.

7. In the morning he telephoned again saying that he (change) his mind.

8. I was surprised that almost nothing (change) in my native town, though some new schools (build) and some old cinemas (close).

9. It seemed to me that she (forget) what (happen) in her life before.

 

Self Check

Ex. 4.Use the required tense form of the verbs.

1. He remembered that he (not to see) his classmates for three years already and decided that he (go) home in summer.

2. Everybody thought they (live) in happiness for nearly twenty years and didn’t want to believe that they (be going) to divorce.

3. Father wanted to know if his sons (play) tennis all day long, or if they (do) their lessons.

4. She (fall) seriously ill so we (invite) the best doctor to examine her. We hoped that she (be) better soon.

5. I received a letter from my classmate in which she said that she (be) in Minsk soon and (like) to have a chat with me.

6. My sister phoned Mother to say that she (be going) to get married and asked if we (come) to her wedding to Germany.

7. She informed us that she (let) her flat for a year and (go) abroad to work. We were not surprised because she always (do) what she (want).

8. We knew not long ago that he (arrest) after the road accident.

9. I looked through the window to see what the weather (be) like. I saw that it (rain) heavily.

10. He promised that he (help) his son to do sums if he (be) back home not very late.

11. She couldn’t imagine what she (do) with the money she (win) in the lottery. It was the first time that she (buy) some lottery-tickets.

12. Though the authorities knew that the bridge (be) unsafe, they (not to do) anything to repair it.

Ex. 5.Use the proper tense form applying the sequence of tenses rule.

1. I asked the clerk at the enquiry-office if I (have) to change when I (go) to Moscow by train and if the train (arrive) on time as my father (wait) for me at the station.

2. We knew that our boss (catch) a cold when he (go) on business, and he (be ill) for two weeks already and nobody (know) when he (recover).

3. She told me last night that she (be going) for a swim in the morning if she (wake) early.

4. He hoped that he (have) a good rest if he (go) on holiday alone.

5. I knew that she (be worried) by the letter she (receive) some days ago, and was glad to know that things (take) a turn for the better.

6. At last we knew him well enough to ask about what (happen) to him when he (refuse) to join our company.

7. We hoped that we (arrive) at the station just on time and were very disappointed when we (find) out that our train (leave) already.

8. She said nothing to me except that she (turn) down the job she (look) for so long. She couldn’t give any explanation until she (understand) herself what (happen).

9. An old friend of mine rang me up and asked if I (have) a good time in Italy and if I (go) to the concert with him in two days as he already (buy) the tickets.

10. Nobody understood why she (invent) that story and (not to tell) the truth about him.

11. I didn’t think I ever (see) him before, and hoped I never (see) him in future.

12. He was sure that nobody (disturb) him when he (work) at his report in the library.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1963