The Sequence of Tenses 1. General rules

Дата: 2025-05-25; Просмотры: 6

Оценка:

0.00 из 5.00 — оценок

Скачиваний: 0

Скачать

The rule states: if the verb in the principal clause is in one of the past tenses, a past tense (or future-in-the-past) must be used in the subordinate clause. The action expressed in the subordinate clause can be simultaneous with the action expressed in the principal clause, prior or posterior to that of the principal clause. Study how the Rule of the Sequence of Tenses is observed in such clauses.

So a useful general rule is: we move the reported clauses "one tense back" 'present becomes past, past becomes past perfect, will becomes would'

Study how the tenses are changed according to the rule of the Sequence of Tenses.

91

TIME AND PLACE CHANGES:

here о

this о

these о

now о

today о

yesterday о

a year ago last night tonight

there

that

those

then / at that moment

that day

the day before

the previous day

a year before

the previous night

that night

Adverb changes depend on the context. It is not always necessary to make these changes, especially in spoken Indirect Speech.

□ "I'll see you tonight", he said. - He said he would see me tonight.

NOTES:

1. The main sphere where the Sequence of Tenses is applied is the object clause:

□ Harris said he knew what kind of place I meant.

2. If there are several subordinate clauses in a sentence the rule is observed in all of them.

Q I knew that he had told her that he received the letters every week.

- Я знал , что он сказал ей, что получает эти письма каждую неделю.

□ I thought he would tell her that he intended to go to the Crimea.

- Я думал , что он скажет ей, что он намеревается поехать в Крым.

□ Не said that Jack had told her that he was writing a play.

- Он сказал , что Джек говорил ей, что он пишет пьесу.

3. The Sequence of Tenses is not observed if the object clause expresses a general truth
or something is represented as habitual, customary or characteristic.

□ The teacher told the children that water boils at 100°C.

□ Galileo proved that the Earth moves round the Sun.

□ He asked what time the train usually starts.

□ We knew that he plays tennis well.

Q The speaker said that the peoples want peace.

4. In when/if clauses we use Past Indefinite/Past Continuous/Past Perfect depending on
the situation.

□ I thought that we would discuss the problem when the manager returned from
Moscow.

92

□ He said he would be reading while she was writing the letter.

□ He said that he would go home after he had translated the article.

5. In attributive clauses, adverbial clauses of cause and comparison we also use Present

or Future.

О My brother told me about the book you are writing.

□ He was not able to translate the article because he doesn't know English well enough.

□ He refused to go to the theatre because he will have an exam in a few days.

□ It was not so cold yesterday as it is now.

□ He was once stronger than he is now.

6. When we say how long something has been happening the sentence can have double
meaning. It depends on the context or situation.

□ I knew that she had been ill for two months.

1. Я знал, что она болеет уже два месяца .

2. Я знал, что она болела два месяца .

But: □ I knew that she had been ill. - Я знал , что она болела .

□ Не said that it had been raining. - Он сказал , что шел дождь .

7. Past Indefinite can stay the same if we use:

in 1945

2 years ago □ He said that he left Moscow 5 years ago.

yesterday О □ He knew that Peter was at home yesterday.

last week □ She said she was working when I rang her up.

when he came But: □ He said that he had left Moscow the day before.

two years before.

the previous night.