5

THE SEQUENCE OF TENSES

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

Ex. 3. Say whether the action of the object clause precedes, follows or is simultaneous with the action of the principal clause in the following sentences.

1. He asked me what work I was doing and whether I intended to go to a University. 2. She claimed that she had met Brenda on her way home. Brenda had told her that I would probably come to her place later. 3. Then I thought about Mother. She would certainly ask me where I had been all day. 4. She said she would be staying in town next day to do some shopping. 5. I don’t think that I shall ever work for your father. 6. Out of the comer of my eye I saw the youths had stopped talking and were watching us. 7. I hope you know what you are doing. 8. In the hotel the waiter told me that an American had been staying there for three months. 9. It was also rumoured that Dan had got married.

Ex. 4. Explain how the rules of the Sequence of Tenses work in these clauses. Translate them into Russian.

1. She called my mother to say that they had just got a telegram from Boston announcing that Henry’s brother had got married in Germany. 2.1 knew she was itching to tell me what had happened. 3. He knew that his mother would think he was seriously ill and would probably speak to the teacher. 4. He wanted to return to the house to see how Billy was doing and tell him that he would be going out to Carolina in two or three days. 5. Rudy decided that he would have to tell Bogart that it was impossible for him to appear before the board the next day, but that he would offer to do so any other day.

Ex. 5. Give your reasons as to why the rules of the Sequence of Tenses are not observed in the following sentences.

1. He said he is free tomorrow. 2. He spoke with the satisfaction of a competent workman who knows his job from A to Z. 3. He sought pleasure in the simple and natural things that life offers to everyone. 4. Monty told me that he had no permit for the gun, and that in England it is illegal to own a gun without a permit. 5. I knew I should go; but we sat there because it is difficult to go without any particular reason for living. 6. Billy folded his arms and leaned back. “I told you I don’t like milk.”

Ex. 6. Imagine these sentences were reported in another place a month later. Put in the 'here' and ‘now’ words.

e.g. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ She said she’d see me the next day.

1. ‘My brother’s arriving here today.’ She said her brother was arriving ... .2. ‘I’ll phone you this evening.’ He said he’d phone her .... 3. ‘Do you like it here?’ She asked if I liked it .... 4. ‘My uncle died last week.’ He told me his uncle had died ... .5. ‘This meat tastes funny.’ She said ... meat tasted funny. 6. ‘I’m leaving now.’ He said he was leaving ... .7. ‘I overslept this morning.’ She told him she had overslept ... morning. 8. ‘The train leaves at 11.00 tonight.’ I was told the train left at 11.00 ... 9. ‘Pete phoned me yesterday.’ He said Pete had phoned him ... .10. ‘You are looking good today.’ Bill said she was looking good

Ex. 7. Make the actions of the following object clauses simultaneous with those of the principal clauses.

1. I thought you (have) better sense. 2. She could not imagine what he (do) there. 3. She wanted Wilfred to forbid my walking in the park alone. She said it (be) dangerous. 4. I did not know whether the doctor (mean) what he (say) or whether he (have) a joke at my expense. 5. What surprised me was that Pat (be) so much at home here. 6. He asked me what work I (do) and whether I (intend) to go to a University. 7. I was surprised you didn’t know my name. 8. He told his father that he (make) ten dollars a week less. 9. The last two weeks she had been saying to everyone who phoned her that she (be) unwell and (not leave) home. 10. When I knew him better he admitted that he (feel) lonely in London.

Ex. 8. Make the actions in the following object clauses precede those of the principal clauses.

1. At ten o’clock he telephoned again, saying that he (change) his mind. 2. I knew that for the past twenty-five years he (buy) the same paper each morning. 3. Indeed it was whispered that the headmaster (receive) a telegram from the boy’s father. 4. She seemed to have forgotten what (happen) a few minutes before. 5. But he was uneasy. His wife would easily find out that he (go) to Saigon. 6. It was not known where he (spend) his early childhood. 7. The question was why he (do) it at all. 8. Then he admitted that he (live) since the summer in his father’s house. 9. What she could not understand was why he (tell) them such a pack of lies. 10. She wrote that they (let) their house for a year. 11. Her mother once confided to her that she (want) to be an actress. 12. It was probably true that he (be) quite fond of his late brother. 13. One day she told me why she never (get) married. 14.1 wondered what she (do) there so late at night.

Ex. 9. Complete the reported sentences with the correct tenses.

1. ‘I’m tired.’ She said she ... tired. 2. ‘You play very well.’ He told me I ... very well. 3. ‘Can you help us?’ They asked if I ... help them. 4. ‘We’re leaving.’ They told us they ... .5. ‘She hasn’t brushed her hair.’ I noticed that she ... her hair. 6. ‘John’s had an accident.’ Pam rang to say that John ... an accident.

7. ‘I left school at fifteen.’ Her letter said that she ... school at fifteen. 8. ‘She won’t say anything.’ I knew she ... anything. 9. ‘Nobody will know.’ I thought nobody .... 10. ‘This letter has been opened.’ I could see that the letter ....

Ex, 10. Report the statements.

1. Betty said to Lucy, “I’m sorry to disturb you.” 2. Dan said, “I’ve missed my bus, I’ll be late and my boss will be furious.” 3. The girl said to her friends, “I didn’t go to the stadium yesterday.” 4. My brother said, “I’m talking on the phone.” 5. Nora said to Jack, “I’ll tell you what to do.” 6. Lora said, “John phoned this evening.” 7. Bill said, “I’ve been ill for a fortnight.” 8. She said, “I’ve never set eyes on him in my life.” 9. He said, “Bill wants to know if you are free tomorrow.” 10. Jane said, “I’m learning French now.”

Ex. 11. Use the required tense-aspect forms in the following sentences, observing the rules of the Sequence of Tenses.

1. When I went into the office next morning I already (formulate) my plan. 2. Well, I don’t think I ever (see) you before. 3. She ended by saying that she (think) she (make) a mistake. 4. She knew what (go) on in their minds. 5. So I went into the living room, where my aunt already (wait) for me. 6. She telephoned her husband to the office to say that he brother (return) from abroad. 7. An old friend rang up to ask how Elizabeth (feel), and whether she (can) go with his wife to the concert on Sunday morning. 8. Most of the trees already (put) out their leaves and there were buds everywhere. 9. He remembered that he (not see) Lily for three weeks. 10. She hadn’t yet figured out what she (be) going to do and she (hope) to be able to wait a little. 11. It was possible that Jack (hang) around. 12. Everybody didn’t know why she (invent) the story.