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1. The Indefinite Tense

2. The Continuous Tense3. The Perfect Tense

4. The Perfect Continuous Tense5. The Sequence of Tenses6. The Grammar test7. Questions

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8. Terminology9. Historical commentary 10. The Internet resources.

1. Theory2. Examples3. Questions4. Exercises

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The term "sequence of tenses" refers to the choice of the verb tense in the subordinate clause depending on the tense of the verb in the main clause. The rule of the sequence of tenses means that the tense in the subordinate clause is determined by the tense in the main clause and should agree with it both logically and grammatically. The term "sequence of tenses" is often translated into Russian as "agreement of tenses". Generally, in complex sentences with all types of subordinate clauses, except the object clause, the sequence of the tenses in the pair "verb in the main clause – verb in the subordinate clause" is logical and based on sense and general rules of the use of tenses. The verb in the subordinate clause may be in any tense that reflects the actual time of the action and conveys the meaning correctly in the pair with the verb in the main clause.

Note: According to the rules of the use of tenses, the Simple Present is used instead of the Simple Future in adverbial clauses of time and condition referring to the future.

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If the verb in the main clause is in the past tense (usually, in the Simple Past), there are three possible variants of the action in the subordinate clause: at the same time as the action in the main clause; earlier than the action in the main clause; later than the action in the main clause. If the action in the subordinate clause took place at the same time as the action in the main clause, the Simple Past (or the Past Continuous if required by the context) is used in the subordinate clause. If the action in the subordinate clause took place earlier than the action in the main clause, the Past Perfect (or the Past Perfect Continuous if required by the context) is used in the subordinate clause. If the action in the subordinate clause took place later than the action in the main clause, the Future in the Past is used in the subordinate clause ("would" is used instead of "will").

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1. She goes for a walk in the park when the weather is good. She went for a walk in the park when the weather was good.

2. I think (that) he lives on Rose Street. I thought (that) he lived on Rose Street.

3. I wonder whether she will buy this house. I wondered whether she would buy that house.

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1. They noticed they_____ (fly) for three hours already. 2. Tom said that it _____(take) him an hour to get to the station. 3. She asked them if they ______(play) tennis in the afternoon. 4. Mary asked her brother if he ___(can) tell her the way to the shop. 5. Peter and John told me they ____(go) to the Kremlin the day before yesterday. 6. Mother said she _____ (have) a bad headache. Don't bother her. 7. Dorothy asked Margaret if she _____(be) going to buy a new dress in the nearest future. 8. They told us they _____(visit) the Tretyakovskaya gallery next Sunday. 9. Jack said that he already______ (write) the letter. 10. They asked if the work ______(finish) by tomorrow.

Complete the sentences.

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1. What does the term “sequence of tense” mean?2. What determine the tense in the subordinate clause?3. Which tense is used instead of the Simple Future in

adverbial clauses of time and condition referring to the future?

4. In which cases does the verb in the object subordinate clause may be in any tense?

5. Why should the verb in the subordinate clause be used in one of the past tenses?

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1. She asked me about my schedule for the next week and I answered that I ..... it yet. o hadn't knowno didn't knowo wouldn't know

Choose the correct form.

2. Nina said Lucy complained that her friends never ..... any attention to what she told them. o would payo paido had paid

3. Mary warned his parents that ..... home late that night. o she would comeo cameo had come

4. Did you say ..... very early the following morning? o you would have to get upo would you have to get upo will you have to get up

5. Mary begged me not to tell her father what ..... earlier that day. o happeno had happenedo would happen

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1. What does the term “sequence of tense” mean?2. What determines the tense in the subordinate clause?3. Which tense is used instead of the Simple Future in adverbial clauses of time and condition referring to the future?4. In which cases does the verb in the object subordinate clause may be in any tense?5. Why should the verb in the object subordinate clause be used in one of the past tenses?6. Which tense is used instead of the Simple Future in adverbial clauses of time and condition referring to the future?7. In which cases does the verb in the object subordinate clause may be in any tense?8. Why should the verb in the object subordinate clause be used in one of the past tenses?

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Answers

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to prove, to ague, to demonstrate, to give evidence - доказывать

proof, argument, demonstration,Q.E.D = which was to be demonstrated

- доказательство

Phrase, sentence, statement, expression - утверждение, высказывание, суждение

to make, to be, to be equal to - равняться, равно

to add

to divide

to multiply

to subtract

- добавлять

- делить

- умножать

- вычитать

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http://usefulenglish.ru/grammar/sequence-of-tenses

http://uchebnik.kz/angliyskiy-yazyk

http://www.homeenglish.ru/Grammarseq.htm

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it is interesting (now). it was interesting (yesterday).

it will be interesting (tomorrow). Jim says (that)

it was interesting (now). it had been interesting (yesterday). it would be interesting (tomorrow).

Jim said (that)

that, those then, at that moment there that day the next day two days later in two days the day before two days before before

this, these now here today tomorrow the day after tomorrow yesterday the day before yesterday ago

Indirect Speech Direct Speech

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it is interesting (now). it was interesting (yesterday).

it will be interesting (tomorrow). Jim says (that)

it was interesting (now). it had been interesting (yesterday). it would be interesting (tomorrow).

Jim said (that)

that, those then, at that moment there that day the next day two days later in two days the day before two days before before

this, these now here today tomorrow the day after tomorrow yesterday the day before yesterday ago

Indirect Speech Direct Speech

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