Sequence of tenses. Exclusions

Sequence of tenses:

Dependence the tense of the predicate in a subordinate clause on the tense of the predicate in the principal clause.

Sequence of tenses takes place when the predicate in the principal clause is in a past tense.

Sequence of tenses is used in three kinds of situations:

-The action in the subordinate clause takes place before the action in the principal clause: Past Perfect is used in the subordinate clauses

I knew he had come.

-The action in the subordinate clause takes place at the same time as the action in the principal cause:

Past Simple (for constant facts): I knew he had a car.

Past Continuous (for progressive actions): I knew he was coming.

-The action in the subordinate clause takes place after the action
in the principal clause: future-in-the-past is used in the
subordinate clause (should/would + 1st form):I knew he would come.

Difference:

Future Future-in-The-Past

I shall come = I haven't come I should come = I may have come

Exclusions from sequence of tenses

-sequence of tenses is not used:

-in attributive clauses:

Yesterday I saw the man your are speaking about.

The king’s servants found a man who is always happy.

I met the man who lives next-door to you.

-in comparative clauses: He worked as hard as hecan.

-in clauses of reason: I bought the book because Ilike the author.

-when a universal truth is expressed: I thought that water always boils at 100˚C.

-when moment of the action is mentioned in the clause: He said he came ay ten.

-“must" doesn't change its form: I knew he must come.

K92

TOEFL 44-156

Reported speech

Direct speech: Brown says, “I like my job.”

Reported (=Indirect) speech: Brown says he likes his job.

-Reported orders:

“to” + 1st form: He asked to take a seat.

Negative order: “not to”+ 1st form: He asked not to open the door.

Polite request: can, could, will, would

-Personal pronouns changed according to the meaning

-Time and place phrases changed according to the meaning

Direct speech Indirect speech

today that day

yesterday the day before

tomorrow on the next day

... ago ...before

this ... that ...

these ... those ...

here there

last year the year before

last month the month before

last ... the ... before

next... the following ...

§59 Reported statements:

-Personal pronouns changed according to the meaning

-Time and place phrases changed according to the meaning

-Verb tense changed according to the Sequence of tenses

-Conjunction that (omitted in colloquial speech)

§60 Reported questions:

-direct question: Do you know it? à He asked if/whether I knew it.

-Personal pronouns changed according to the meaning

-Time and place phrases changed according to the meaning

-Verb tense changed according to the Sequence of tenses

-Interrogative order of words changed for the affirmative one

-Conjunction if(colloquial)/whether

-special question: What do you know? à He asked what I knew.

-Personal pronouns changed according to the meaning

-Time and place phrases changed according to the meaning

-Verb tense changed according to the Sequence of tenses

-Interrogative order of words changed for the affirmative one

-Conjunction what, when, where etc.

TOEFL 16-79

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1009