The Rules of the Sequence of Tenses

The Sequence of Tenses

Original Tense Changed to....
Present - Past
Present Continuous - Past Continuous
Past - Past Perfect
Present Perfect - Past Perfect
will - would
can - could
may - might

The tense of a verb in the subordinate clause changes in accordance with the tense of the verb in
the main clause.
The basic rules are as follows:
Rule 1
When the verb in the principal (main) clause is in the present or future tense, the verb in the
subordinate clause may be in any tense that the context requires.
Examples:
 I maintain (main clause) that he is honest (subordinate clause).
 I maintain that he was honest.
 I maintain that he will be honest.
 I shall maintain (main clause) that he is honest (subordinate clause).
 I shall maintain that he was honest.
 I shall maintain that he will be honest.
Exception:
Conditional and time clauses generally take a Verb in the Present Tense and not in the Future.
Examples:
 You will catch (Future) the train, if (condition) you run (Present) fast.
 I shall be (Future) very glad, if (condition) you come. (Present)
 I will call you when (time) dinner is ready. (Present)
 I shall wait until (time) you return. (Present)

Rule 2
When the principal (main) clause is in the past tense, the verb in the subordinate clause also
should be in the past tense.
Examples:
 He said (main clause) that he was not guilty (subordinate clause).

 He asked (main clause) whether he might go home (subordinate clause).

 She was so weak (main clause) that she could not stand (subordinate clause).
Exceptions:
(a) A Past Tense in the Principal clause is followed by a Present Indefinite Tense in the
subordinate clause when there is a universal truth, habitual fact, geographical truth etc.
Examples:
 Copernicus proved (main clause) that the earth moves round the sun (subordinate clause).
 The preacher said (main clause) that there is only one God (subordinate clause).
 The teacher said (main clause) that honesty is always the best policy (subordinate clause).
(b) A past tense in the principal clause may be followed by any tense required by the sense when
the subordinate clause is adverb clause of place, reason, or comparison.
Examples:
 He didn’t get the job because his English isn’t good.
 A fishing village once existed where now lies the city of Mumbai.
(c) A past tense in the principal clause may be followed by any tense required by the sense if
the subordinate clause is an adjective clause.
Examples:
 Yesterday I met a man who sells balloons.
 Yesterday I met a man who sold me a balloon.
(d) When the Subordinate Clause begins with ‘as if or ‘as though’, ‘if only’, ‘it is time’ and ‘wish
that’ the Verb in the Past Tense means the Present Tense.
Examples:
 He talks as if he were mad.
 She scolded me as if I were her servant.
 He talks as if he knew everything.
 I wish I was a bit taller.
 It is time we started working.
Note: ‘As if’ or ‘as though’ are followed by ‘were’.
Example:
 She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers.