SEQUENCE OF TENSES

1.Read the following excerpt from "Cakes and Ale" by Somerset

Maugham paying attention to the sequence of tenses,then
translate the passage into Romanian:
I had quite made up my mind that I was going out with the
Driffields next morning,but knew that it was no good asking my
uncle if I might.If he found out that I had been and made a
row it couldn't be helped,and if Ted Driffield asked me whether
I had got my uncle's permission I was quite prepared to say I had.
But I had after all no need to lie.In the afternoon,the tide
being high,I went to the beach to bathe,and my uncle,having some-
thing to do in the town,walked part of the way with me.Just as
we were passing the Bear and Key,Ted Driffield stepped out of it.
He saw us and came straight up to my uncle.I was startled at
his coolness.
2.Change the main verb in each sentence to the PAST INDEFINITE.
Then change the verb in the subordinate clause according to
its time relation to the main verb.
I think John needs your advice./Mr.Barton claims that he has
solved the problem./Mary says she saw these people last year./
I suppose Mike will finish his paper next month./I know you are
angry with him./James thinks he was the best student last year./
We assume the meeting will be over around seven o'clock./
I remember that we had a lot of snow last winter./I hear
that Professor Brown is writing another book./I guess they
haven't heard anything about it yet./The note indicates John
will present his paper next week.
3.Select the correct word from the brackets in each sentence:
We are sure that Richard (can,could) help us with the work./
Henry regretted that he (can,could) not go with us./I regret
that we (must,had to) leave now./Victor thought he (can,could)
find someone to explain everything to us./Daniel said he (may,might)
send the parcel the next day./We regret that we (can,could) stay
only fifteen minutes longer./We thought that we (can,could) tell
her the truth./They didn't know that we (must,had to) leave at once
4.Put the verbs in brackets into the right tense:
Right now Grandpa (take) a nap.He (fall) asleep an hour ago.
He (sleep) for an hour.//Yesterday Gradpa (take) a nap from
2.00 to 3.00.I (get) home at 2.30.When I (come) in,he (sleep).
He (sleep) for half an hour by the time I (come).//Tom:"I (be)
in your native town last month.It (look) like a nice town.I
(never,be) there before." Ann:"What (you,do) in that part of the
country?"Tom:"My sister and I (drive) to Suceava to see our
grandparents."// Laura (start) to read "Washington Square" by
Henry James and she (not finish) reading it yet.She (read) it
because her English teacher (ask) her to.//The weather (be)
terrible lately.It (rain) off and on for two days and the tempe-
rature (drop) at least ten degrees.It (be) around 5 degrees
Celsius now.Just three days ago the sun (shine) and the weather
(be) pleasant.The weather certainly (change) quickly here.I never
know what to expect.Who (know)? When I (wake) up tomorrow morning
maybe it (snow).//Last night I (go) to a party.When I (get) there,
the room (be) full of people.Some of them (dance) and others (talk),
one young woman (stand) by herself.I (never,meet) her,so I
(introduce) myself to her.
5.Read the sentences below and point out the clauses where the
sequence of tenses is not involved:
Father bought the house in which we are living today./Father
bought the house so that we would have a place to live in./
In my opinion,Shakespeare wrote much better than his predecessors
had been able to./In my opinion,Shakespeare wrote much better
than his contemporaries could./In my opinion,Shakespeare wrote
much better than modern dramatists can./In my opinion,Shakespeare
wrote much better than any playwright yet unborn will be able to.