Sequence of tenses

In English the tense form of the action expressed by the verb of the subordinate clause usually depends on the tense form expressed by the verb of the principal clause.

1. If the verb of the principal clause is expressed in one of the present tenses or in the future tenses, the verb of the subordinate clause may be used in any tense that is necessary.

e.g. She knows that we shall return in time.

They will understand that nothing can help them.

I have learned that they came to town yesterday.

2. If the verb of the principal clause is expressed in one of the past tenses, the verb of the subordinate clause must be used in one of the past tenses.

a) To denote an action simultaneous to the action of the principle clause the verb of the subordinate clause must be used in the Past Indefinite or the Past Continuous Tense.

e.g. She said that they had a small cottage in the country.

We knew that they were going to leave Moscow.

Compare with the Russian:

1. Она сказала, что они имеют маленький домик за городом.

2. Мы знаем, что они собираются уехать из Москвы.

NOTE: The verb must does not obey this rule.

e.g. They said that she must do it at once.

b) To denote an action preceding the action of the principle clause the verb of the subordinate clause must be used in the Past Perfect Tense.

e.g. He said that he had never been to London.

c) To denote a future action viewed from a past moment (Sequence of Tenses) the verb in the subordinate clause must be used in the Future - in - the Past. This tense is formed with the help of the auxiliary verb should for the first person singular and plural or would for the second and the third person singular and plural and the infinitive of the notional verb.

e.g. We learned that they would be pleased to see us.

He knew that we should help him.

Everybody understood that she would not tell them a word.

I told my friend that I should go to a rest-home during the vacation.

Indirect speech

In changing from direct into indirect speech it is necessary to use all the rules of Sequence of Tenses that have been mentioned. The verb to say. which is used to introduce direct speech is usually replaced by the verb to tell in indirect speech if a person is mentioned.

e.g. 1) He said to her: ‘I don’t know anything about it‘.

He told her that he didn’t know anything about it.

2) She said: ‘Is the boy late today?’

She asked if the boy was late that day.

In indirect speech this is usually changed into that, these into those, now into then, ago into before, here into there, today into that day, yesterday into the day before or the previous day, the previous year, next year into the next year.

e. g. 1) He said: ‘I saw her here yesterday’.

He said that he had seen her there the day before.

2) She said: ‘We shall speak about it tomorrow’.

She said that they would speak about it the next day.

3) Ann said to her mother: ‘I read this story a few days ago’.

Ann told her mother that she had read that story a few days before.