Although the various shades of time and sequence are usually conveyed adequately in informal

speech and writing, especially by native speakers and writers, they can create havoc in academic
writing and they sometimes are troublesome among students for whom English is a second language.
This difficulty is especially evident in complex sentences when there is a difference between the time
expressed in an independent clause and the time expressed in a dependent clause. Another difficulty
arises with the use of infinitives and participles, modals that also convey a sense of time. We hope the
tables below will provide the order necessary to help writers sort out tense sequences.
As long as the main clause's verb is in neither the past nor the past perfect tense, the verb of the
subordinate clause can be in any tense that conveys meaning accurately. When the main clause verb is
in the past or past perfect, however, the verb in the subordinate clause must be in the past or past
perfect. The exception to this rule is when the subordinate clause expresses what is commonly known
as a general truth:
 In the 1950s, English teachers still believed that a background in Latin is
essential for an understanding of English.
 Columbus somehow knew that the world is round.
 Slave owners widely understood that literacy among oppressed people is a
dangerous thing.

The tables below demonstrate the correct relationship of tenses between clauses where
time is of the essence (i.e., within sentences used to convey ideas about actions or
conditions that take place over time).

Tense in
Purpose of Dependent Clause/
Independent Example(s)
Tense in Dependent Clause
Clause
To show same-time action, use the I am eager to go to the concert
present tense because I love the Wallflowers.

To show earlier action, use past

I know that I made the right choice.
tense
Simple To show a period of time extending
Present from some point in the past to the They believe that they have elected
present, use the present perfect the right candidate.
tense.

To show action to come, use the The President says that he will veto
future tense. the bill.

To show another completed past I wanted to go home because I

action, use the past tense. missed my parents.
Simple To show an earlier action, use the She knew she had made the right
Past past perfect tense. choice.

To state a general truth, use the The Deists believed that the universe
present tense. is like a giant clock.
Present
Perfect She has grown a foot since she
turned nine.
or For any purpose, use the past tense.
The crowd had turned nasty before
Past the sheriff returned.
Perfect

To show action happening at the I will be so happy if they fix my car

same time, use the present tense. today.

To show an earlier action, use the You will surely pass this exam if
Future past tense. you studied hard.

To show future action earlier than The college will probably close its
the action of the independent doors next summer if enrollments
clause, use the present perfect tense. have not increased.

Most students will have taken sixty

Future credits by the time they graduate.
For any purpose, use the present
Most students will have taken sixty
Perfect tense or present perfect tense.
credits by the time they have
graduated.

Notes:
Unless logic dictates otherwise, when discussing a work of literature, use the present
tense: "Robert Frost describes the action of snow on the birch trees." "This line
suggests the burden of the ice." "The use of the present tense in Carver's stories creates
a sense of immediacy."

Sequence of Tenses
With Infinitives and Participles
 Like verbs, infinitives and participles are capable of conveying the idea
of action in time; therefore, it is important that we observe the
appropriate tense sequence when using these modals.

INFINITIVES
Tense of
Role of Infinitive Example(s)
Infinitive
Coach Espinoza is eager to try out
her new drills. [The eagerness is
now; the trying out will happen
Present
To show same-time action or action later.]
Infinitive later than the verb She would have liked to see more
(to see) veterans returning. [The present
infinitive to see is in the same time
as the past would have liked.]

The fans would like to have seen

some improvement this year.
["Would like" describes a present
Perfect condition; "to have seen" describes
Infinitive To show action earlier than the verb
something prior to that time.]

(to have They consider the team to have

been coached very well. [The
seen) perfect infinitive to have been
coached indicates a time prior to the
verb consider.]

PARTICIPLES
Tense of
Role of Participle Example(s)
Participle
Working on the fundamentals, the
Present team slowly began to improve. [The
To show action occurring at the
Participle same time as that of the verb
action expressed by began happened
in the past, at the same time the
(seeing) working happened.]

Past To show action occurring earlier Prepared by last year's experience,

than that of the verb the coach knows not to expect too
Participle much. [The action expressed by
or knows is in the present; prepared
expresses a time prior to that time.]
 Having experimented with several
Present game plans, the coaching staff
devised a master strategy. [The
Perfect present perfect participle having
Participle experimented indicates a time prior
to the past tense verb, devised.]