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Sequence of Tenses: 1. Main Clause Present / Future

1. Sequence of Tenses rules indicate which tenses can be used in subordinate clauses based on the tense used in the main clause. 2. If the main clause is in the present or future tense, any tense can generally be used in the subordinate clause. 3. If the main clause is in the past tense, only past tenses should be used in the subordinate clause according to the Sequence of Tenses rules. However, there are some exceptions where a present tense can still be used.

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439 views

Sequence of Tenses: 1. Main Clause Present / Future

1. Sequence of Tenses rules indicate which tenses can be used in subordinate clauses based on the tense used in the main clause. 2. If the main clause is in the present or future tense, any tense can generally be used in the subordinate clause. 3. If the main clause is in the past tense, only past tenses should be used in the subordinate clause according to the Sequence of Tenses rules. However, there are some exceptions where a present tense can still be used.

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Ioana Miron
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Sequence of Tenses

[I went to the library] MAIN CLAUSE [because I needed extra material for my paper.] EMBEDDED /
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE.

Sequence of Tenses rules (SOTs) indicate what tense we can use in an embedded / subordinate
clause, function of the tense that is used in the main clause.

1. Main Clause = Present / Future

Generally, if the tense used in the main clause is present or future, in the embedded clause we
can use any tense, as appropriate in the context.
MAIN CLAUSE = Present Embedded Clause
I know what you’re doing right now. (present continuous)
I think he has exaggerated. (present perfect)
He says he will think about our offer. (future)
I hope you didn’t tell her exactly that! (past simple)

1.1. Present simple in adverbial clauses of time referring to the future

Adverbial clauses of time (time clauses) are introduced by: when, as soon as, before, after, until,
once, by the time (that…), the moment (that…) etc. In time clauses referring to the future, we use
one of the present tenses.
(1)
*I’ll call you when I will arrive home.
 I’ll call you when I arrive home.
Will can be used only in its modal sense, showing willingness / agreement on the part of the
subject: You’ll have to pay him before he’ll do anything.
Note that when can also introduce noun phrases, not only time clauses. Compare
(2)
a. He will tell you [when he has the information].  the embedded clause says when he
will tell you, i.e. when he has this information himself
b. He will tell you [when he’ll have the information]  the embedded clause says what he
will tell you, e.g. he’ll have the information by tomorrow at 4
1.2. Present perfect in adverbial clauses of time referring to the future

In time clauses we can also use present prefect, not only present simple.
In some cases, both present simple and present perfect are appropriate, with little difference in
meaning between the two:
(3) I’ll call you as soon as the competition ends / has ended.
In other cases, there is a difference, i.e.
ANTERIORITY
(4)
a. Pay me a visit when my guests leave. (their leaving and your coming might coincide)
b. Pay me a visit when my guests have left. (their leaving will certainly happen before your
coming)

FOCUS ON RESULT
(5) You’ll feel better after you’ve talked to somebody. (you’ll feel better as a result of talking to
somebody)

2. Main Clause = Past

SOT states that a past tense in the main clause requires only past tenses in the embedded clause
(tense backshift). When reporting a person’s statement under a past verb of saying (e.g. he told
me, he said etc.), one must “backshift” the tenses in the subordinate clause.
Indirect Discourse
Direct Discourse Example Example
(reported speech)
Present I like the idea. Past She said she liked the idea.
I’ve just talked to She said she had just talked
Present Perfect Past perfect
you about this. to you about that.
She said she would help
Future I will help you. Future in the Past
you.

2.1. Double Access Reading (DAR)

One can use a present tense instead of a past tense in reported speech if the state or event
referred to in the subordinate sentence holds both at the time of the main clause and at
speech time.
E.g. Mary told me that John is rude.
This sentence is grammatical because we can interpret that John is rude (as per Mary) both when
she told me that and now.
This is called Double Access Reading, when a statement holds both at the time of the main
clause (when she told me) and at speech time (now).

2.2. Optional SOT

SOT is optional (i.e. we can use a present tense in the subordinate sentence even if the matrix
verb is in a past tense) in the following situations:
a. Generic sentences: She told me water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
b. Habitual sentences: She told me she hates cats.
c. Factive predicates in the matrix (the subordinate clause is taken to be a fact, understood
as true)
- Verbs of knowledge: find out, realize, discover, see, know, perceive, notice,
forget etc.
i. I forgot that you work in an IT firm now.
- Affective verbs: regret, resent, be sorry/happy/amazed/upset etc.
i. I was happy to hear that you’re pregnant.
d. Matrix verb = verb of communication in DAR situations, e.g. say, tell, communicate,
answer, assert etc.
- She said that Italians are warmer people.

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