IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,

THE ENTIRELY MERCIFUL,

THE ESPECIALLY MERCIFUL.

ISLAMIC ONLINE UNIVERSITY

BEGINNER
WEEK 10
DAY 2
Sequence Of Tenses
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

 Recognize the proper sequence of tenses.

 Identify how verb tenses in the subordinate clause of a sentence
change depending on the verb tense in the main clause.
 Write according to the principles of sequence of tenses.
 Sequence Of Tenses
The term "sequence of tenses" refers to the choice of the verb tense in the
subordinate clause depending on the tense of the verb in the main clause.
Let’s us see the following examples:
1.He says that he is fine.
2. I knew that he would not pass
3. He will say that he was fine.

In each of the above examples, the verb tense in the subordinate clauses
changes according to the verb tense in the main clause.
There are some basic rules to follow in order to figure out how the verb tense in the
subordinate clause changes.

Rule 1
If the verb in the main clause is in the present or the future tense, the verb in the
subordinate clause may be in any tense, depending upon the sense to be expressed.

1. He says that he is at the Masjid right now.

2. He says that he was at the Masjid when it started raining.
3. Don’t bother asking him where he is. He will say that he is at the Masjid.
4. He will say that he was at the Masjid.

Do you have anything to add; Another example may be?

 Present Tense
Tense in
Independent Purpose of Dependent Clause/ Example(s)
Tense in Dependent Clause
Clause

I am eager to go to the lecture

To show same-time action, use the present tense because I love Islamic wisdom.

I know that I made the right

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

The President says that he will

To show action to come, use the future tense.
veto the bill.
 Simple Past

To show another completed past action, use I wanted to go home because I

the past tense. missed my parents.

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

To state a general truth, use the present The Deists believed that the
tense. universe is like a giant clock
 Present Perfect/ Past Perfect

She has grown a foot since she turned

Present Perfect
or For any purpose, use the nine.
past tense. The crowd had turned nasty before
Past Perfect the sheriff returned
 Future

To show action happening at

the same time, use the I will be so happy if they fix my
car today.
present tense.

To show an earlier action, use You will surely pass this exam
the past tense. if you studied hard.
Future
To show future action earlier The college will probably close
than the action of the its doors next summer if
independent clause, use the enrollments have not
present perfect tense. increased
 Future Perfect

Most students will have taken sixty

credits by the time they graduate.
Future For any purpose, use the present tense or
Perfect present perfect tense. Most students will have taken sixty
credits by the time they have
graduated.
Note:
When the verb in the main clause is in the future tense, use a
present tense in the subordinate clause beginning with when, until, before
and after to refer to future time.

Example:
1. I will let you know when the manager comes. 
(NOT I will let you know when the manager will come.)
2. I will wait him downstairs until he comes back.
3. I will reach the summit before the snow falls.
Rule 2
A past tense in the main clause is usually followed by a past tense in the
subordinate clause.
Examples:
1. She said that she would come.
2. I realized that I had made a mistake.
3. I found out that he was guilty.
4. ………………..
Any more examples?
 Exceptions
Past tense in the main clause always, but not all the time, requires corresponding past tense in the
subordinate clause. There are, however, a few exceptions to this rule.
1.  Past tense in the main clause may be followed by present tense in the subordinate clause when
the subordinate clause expresses some universal truth.
Example:
The teacher told us that all Muslims are brothers.

2. When the subordinate clause is introduced by than, it may be in any tense

even if the verb in the main clause is in the past tense.
Examples:
He loved me more than he loves his own children.
He loved me more than he loved his own children.
 Activity: 1
Choose the correct answer
1. I knew that she ……….. Doha before, so I asked her to recommend a good
hotel.
a) visited b) had visited c) has been visiting
2. He said that they …………… each other for many years. 
b) know b) have known c) had known
3. My younger daughter learned in class yesterday that the Earth ………
around the Sun.
c) revolves b) is revolving c) was revolving
4. The passage is so difficult that ……… comprehend it.
a) I couldn’t b) I won’t c) I can’t
 Answers
1. I knew that she had visited Doha before, so I asked her to recommend a
good hotel.
a) visited b) had visited c) has been visiting
2. He said that they had known each other for many years. 
b) know b) have known c) had known
3. My younger daughter learned in class yesterday that the Earth revolves
around the Sun.
c) revolves b) is revolving c) was revolving
4. The passage is so difficult that I can’t comprehend it.
a) I couldn’t b) I won’t c) I can’t
Rule 3
Expressions such as as if, if only, it is time and wish that are usually
followed by past tenses.
Examples:
1. I wish I were a bit taller.
2. It is time we started working.
3. He talks as if he knew everything.

Can you make a sentence with ‘if only?’

 Activity 2
Choose the correct answer
1. I will call you when the dinner …….. ready.
a) Will be b) was c) is
2. The Qur’an tells us that man ------------------ mortal.
b) Is  b) Was c) Will be
3. I found that the baby …………………… awake.
c) Is b) was c) will be
4. If only I …….. so much homework I could go to the event.
a) don’t have b) didn’t have c) won’t have
 Answers
1. I will call you when the dinner is ready.
a) Will be b) was c) is
2. The Qur’an tells us that man is mortal.
b) Is  b) Was c) Will be
3. I found out that the baby was awake.
c) Is b) was c) will be
4. If only I didn’t have so much homework I could go to the event.
a) don’t have b) didn’t have c) won’t have
 Using The Correct Sequence Of Tenses

In English language the particular sequence of events that you are describing
will, often, require you to use several different verb tenses within a single
sentence or paragraph. Although it is appropriate to vary your verb tenses in
accordance with the actual timing of the events, you should avoid shifting
tenses unnecessarily.
For instance, if all the verbs in a sentence describe actions or states that occur
at or about the same time, their tenses should be the same.
Let us look at the following sentence.

Whenever the alarm clock goes off, I yawn, stretch, roll over snooze for another
fifteen minutes.
 Read the following story and see how the sequence of tenses is used to
tell the story.

Ḥaarith ibn ‛Abbaad, one of the rulers of Al-Andalus (Muslim Spain), was
looking to capture ‛Adi ibn Abi Rabi‛ah in order to exact revenge from him.
However, his problem was that he didn't know what Ibn Abi Rabi ‛ah looked
like. A prisoner said to one of the guards, "Will you free me if I show you to
him?" The guard said, "Yes, I promise to do so." After an oath from him, he
said, "I am ‛Adi ibn Abi Rabi‛ah." The guard felt the urge to notify Haarith but
remembered his promise and oath and felt compelled to free him.
Sequence of tenses is not only used in written language. We also use
it in our everyday conversations without us even noticing it.

Look at the sample interview on the next slide and underline the
verbs explaining the relation of sequence of tenses.
Mr. Ahmed: Good morning Anwar. Nice to meet you. Please have a seat.
Anwar: Thank you. Nice to meet you too.
Mr. Ahmed : Did you have any problems finding our building this morning?
Anwar: Actually, no. Your receptionist gave me excellent directions when I called yesterday.
Mr. Ahmed: So, Anwar I was just reading over your resume, and you said here that you
graduated from a 6- month training program in customer care.
Anwar: Yes, I graduated from ‘Ultimate Care’ two months ago.
Mr. Ahmed: Good, good. so can you tell me why you are interested in working with clients?
Anwar: During my time at Ultimate Care I like the responsibility and I enjoy the challenges
of serving for demanding customers.
Mr. Ahmed: Great. Now, before we go on, can I verify some information on your resume?
Anwar: Certainly….
Did you notice? The interviewee responds using the same tense as the interviewer.
Mr. Ahmed: Good morning Anwar. Nice to meet you. Please have a seat.
Anwar: Thank you. Nice to meet you too.
Mr. Ahmed : Did you have any problems finding our building this morning?
Anwar: Actually, no. Your receptionist gave me excellent directions when I called yesterday.
Mr. Ahmed: So, Anwar I was just reading over your resume, and you said here that you
graduated from a 6- month training program in customer care.
Anwar: Yes, I graduated from ‘Ultimate Care’ two months ago.
Mr. Ahmed: Good, good. so can you tell me why you are interested in working with clients?
Anwar: During my time at Ultimate Care I like the responsibility and I enjoy the challenges
of serving for demanding customers.
Mr. Ahmed: Great. Now, before we go on, can I verify some information on your resume?
Anwar: Certainly….
Did you notice? The interviewee responds using the same tense as the interviewer.
 Activity 3:
Insert the right form of verb in the following sentences based on the
rule of sequence of tenses.
Everyone wants to visit Burjul Arab because it(be) very famous
building.
Shah Jehan decided to build Taj Mahal because he(love) his wife very
much.
He wanted to learn English, however, he (cannot) find a good
institute.
 Activity 3:
Everybody (love) you if you tell the truth..
He will join the Army when he (be) eighteen.
The Muslims (introduce) the first university, but they (do not ) follow
it.
The Qur’an (be) a guidance for mankind but most of the people (not
understand) this fact.
Initially he (cannot) speak the language, but with his effort he soon
(become) expert in it.
 Activity 3:
Everybody (love) you if you tell the truth..
He will join the Army when he (be) eighteen.
The Muslims (introduce) the first university, but they (do not ) follow
it.
The Qur’an (be) a guidance for mankind but most of the people (not
understand) this fact.
Initially he (cannot) speak the language, but with his effort he soon
(become) expert in it.
 Why sequence of tenses?
Learning sequence of tenses will help you:
1. Accurately report what someone else said
Example:
She said, “ I need to study for my final exams.”
She said that she needed to study for her final exams.

2. With conditional sentences

If you could help me with my weekend assignments, I would be grateful.
 Summary
 The form of the verb in the subordinate clause is usually
dependent on the tense of the verb in the main clause.
 Generally a past tense in the main clause is followed by a past
tense in the subordinate clause.
 Some exceptions are:
When the sentence expresses general truth
When the subordinate clause is introduced by than
 Thank You
That is for today. The next lesson
will be about
“INTERVIEW PREPARATION”