Unit 8 means of expressing future actions

Viewed from the past

Sometimes when we are talking about the past, we want to talk about something which was in the future at that time; which had not yet happened. To express this idea, we use similar structures to the ones that we normally use to talk about the future, but we change the verb forms.

1. The Future-in-the-Past is mainly found in object clauses after one of the past tense forms. The action of the subordinate clause follows that of the principal clause. The Future Continuous and Perfect-in-the-Past are not frequent.

He was sure I should get the job.

2. The Past Continuous is used to denote a future-in-the-past action as definitely settled. The action is expected to take place soon after a definite past moment. The time is often indicated.

The last time I saw him he said he was going on the stage.

3. ‘To be going to’ + infinitive serves to denote:

1. that the action had been planned for some time but wasn’t carried out

He was going to meet you himself but his car was stolen.

2. the speaker’s feeling that the action was unavoidable (mainly in reported speech).

4. The Past Indefinite is used:

1. with reference to a future action viewed from the past in clauses of time, condition and concession

I told him if he didn’t hurry up he’d get no breakfast.

2. in object clauses after one of the past tenses of the verb to see (= to attend), to take care, to make sure in the principal clause

He knew that Rosa would see that it didn’t happen.

Mother took care that I held myself well.

Unit 9 the rules of the sequence of tenses

In certain types of subordinate clauses the tenses are used relatively, that is the tense form doesn’t refer the action to the present, past or future but only shows whether the action of the subordinate clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause, precedes or follows it.

The relative use of tenses is mainly observed in object clauses:

1. After one of the past forms in the principal clause (including the Future-in-the-Past) we find only past forms in the subordinate clause:

1. if the action of the subordinate clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause Past Indefinite or Past Continuous is used in the object clause no matter which past tense is found in the principal clause

Nobody knew what he meant.

I thought you were joking.

He had not realized how nervous she was.

He would never know what she was thinking.

2. if the action of the subordinate clause precedes that of the principal clause Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous is used in the object clause no matter which past tense form is found in the principal clause

The people she met seemed to know where she had been.

He was finally telling them what he had been concealing.

3. if the action of the subordinate clause follows that of the principal clause Future-in-the-Past or one of the other means of expressing future actions viewed from the past is found in the principal clause

I had feared that my companion would talk too much.

I explained that I was going up to London.

He knew that Jim would be waiting for her.

2. The rules of the sequence of tenses are also observed in object clauses if one of the present tense forms is used in the principal clause:

1. if the action of the subordinate clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause we find either Present Indefinite or Present Continuous in it no matter which of the present tense forms is found in the principal clause

Maurice doesn’t know what he is doing.

I’m beginning to think you’re a fool.

2. if the action of the subordinate clause precedes that of the principal clause Present Perfect, Past Indefinite, Present Perfect Continuous or Past Continuous are used in the object clause no matter which present tense form is found in the principal clause

I don’t know whether any of you have met her.

I don’t see why he did it.

I don’t want her to see I’ve been crying.

3. if the action of the subordinate clause follows that of the principal clause we find one of the future forms or one of the means of expressing futurity in it no matter which present tense form is found in the principal clause

I don’t think he’ll ever forgive me for asking these people to come here.

I’ve just told everyone that I’m sending him to school this autumn.

3. The rules of the sequence of tenses are also observed in object clauses after one of the future tense forms or one of the other means of expressing futurity in the principal clause:

1. if the action of the subordinate clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause we find either Present Indefinite or Present Continuous in it

I am sure we shall find we have quite a lot to say to one another.

Sir Walter will tell you that I’m not exaggerating.

2. if the action of the subordinate clause precedes that of the principal clause Present Perfect or Past Indefinite are used in it

Miss Sophia will be glad you’ve come.

They will ask you when you arrived in New York.

3. if the action of the subordinate clause follows that of the principal clause we find one of the future forms or one of the means of expressing futurity in it

I’ll tell you what I’ll do.

We’ll let you know what we are going to do about it.

You are going to say that this will cost you a thousand pounds.

The rules of the sequences of tenses are sometimes violated in object clauses:

1. in present-time contexts the rules of the sequence of tenses may not be observed after a past tense form in the principal clause when reference is made:

1. to the actual present time

I told Lewis that we’re worried about Myrtle.

I was obliged to tell him that too much depends on our decision.

Muriel said she’s been ringing you all day, Mother.

2. to the actual past time

I think you said you came in a taxi.

I thought you said you didn’t sleep.

The Past Simple and Continuous often remain unchanged in reported speech, in both written and spoken English, if this can be done without causing any confusion about the time of the actions.

‘When they arrived, I was still cooking the dinner.’

He said that when they arrived, he was still cooking the dinner.

‘I was working until ten o’clock last night.’

She said that she was working until ten o’clock last night / on Tuesday night.

Where the Past Continuous is used to refer to an activity that was completed before an event in the Past Simple or Present Perfect, we are more likely to change the Past Continuous to the Past Perfect Continuous.

‘We were planning to go out but then Joe started feeling sick.’

She said that they had been planning to go out but then Joe started / had started feeling sick.

When the Past Simple is used in a time clause, it does not generally change. When there is a time clause, the verb in the main clause can remain in the Past Simple or change to the Past Perfect.

‘When I got there, the place was almost empty.’

She said that when she got there, the place was / had been almost empty.

When the Past Simple is used to refer to a situation that still exists in the present, it does not generally change.

‘We didn’t stay in the hotel because it was too expensive.’ (and presumably the hotel is still expensive now)

She said that they hadn’t stayed in the hotel because it was too expensive.

In other circumstances, it is better to change the Past Simple to the Past Perfect in written reporting. However, in oral reporting, it is becoming increasingly common to leave the Past Simple unchanged.

3. to the actual future time

I came to tell you that I’ll vote against you.

I read the other day that they are going to raise the war pensions.

In the above examples we may speak of the absolute use of tense forms.

2. The rules of the sequence of tenses may not be observed when the speaker believes that he is dealing with facts, statements or opinions which are kind of general truth

You made me understand what love really is.

3. The rules of the sequence of tenses can not be observed with certain modal verbs which have only one form. They are must, should, ought, need.

I wrote that I must see him.

I didn’t think you need worry.

The main sphere of application the rules of the sequence of tenses is object clauses. Yet these rules are strictly observed:

1. in subject and predicative clauses

How she managed to do it is not known.

This is not what I expected.

Why they had voted against him was a mystery.

2. in appositive clauses

The author expresses the confidence that readers of the paper will support the candidate.

3. in clauses of purpose

The doctor steeped around so that she could see him, and nodded.

He exclaimed loudly and clearly, so that all might hear.

4. in simple sentences as well as in all types of clauses in so-called "inner speech"

The house wasn’t too bad, he reflected to himself. It was good, solidly built, though rather ugly. It would be quite comfortable to live in.

The rules of the sequence of tenses are also observed in clauses of the second, third, etc. grade of subordination. The choice of the tense form is not dependent in this case on the tense form of the principal clause; it is determined here by the tense form of the clause to which it is subordinated.