The Sequence of Tenses II Direct Object Clause A Short Theoretical Overview The Sequence of Tenses = a set of rules governing
the selection of verbal forms tenses or moods in certain types of subordinate clauses under the influence of a number of tenses or constructions in the main clause. In English the sequence of tenses generally applies to three types of subordinate clauses: direct object clauses, conditional clauses and the adverbial clauses of time. Main Clause Present Present Perfect Future Past Perfect (for a prior action / event) Past Past Perfect Future-in-the-Past e.g. She told me she had answered the message. Past Tense (for simultaneous actions) e.g. Mary told me she was at home. Future-in-the-Past (for subsequent action/event) e.g. They said they would go to the movies. any tense required by the meaning of the clause Direct Object Clause
Exception: when the subordinate clause expresses universal truths the Sequence of Tenses rules no longer apply: We were told that Shakespeare is the greatest English writer.
II Grammar Practice I Turn the verbs in italics into the Past Tense making all the other necessary changes: 1. She cant remember what I told her. // .. 2. Tome believes that you are right. // .. 3. You have said that she knows you. // 4. The children hope that Santa Clause will bring them many toys. // . 5. Jane regrets that she cant give us more details about this accident // 6. I wonder what she is going to tell us this time. // . 7. Fred thinks that all his friends will come to his birthday party. // 8. I dont recall what they have said. // 9. We cant anticipate what he will do now. // . 10. I remember that I saw him somewhere. // II Select the correct form of the verbs given in brackets:
Harris thought he (would buy, will buy) a new house soon. // Our friend asked us why the train (has not arrived, had not arrived yet). // Fred admits that he still (has, had) little experience in this field now. // She had to promise him that she (will help, would help) them. // The engineer claimed that he (agrees, agreed) with the others. // John didnt remember what he (told, had told) me the day before. // I didnt know that she (must, had to) leave at 5 oclock. // We guess father (hasnt heard, hadnt heard) this news yet. // Did Jane tell you that she (is going, was going) to move to a new house? // We were sure that they (will come, would come) by the evening train. // The pupils already knew that the teacher (has corrected, had corrected) their papers. // I promised her that I (will lend, would lend) her the book after I (finished, had finished) it. // This time yesterday you (told, were telling) me how busy you (are, were) and what your plans for the future (are, were). // I explained that she (will be playing, would be playing) the piano at that time.
III Translate into English: 1. Tocmai i-am spus c l-am vzut ieri pe fostul nostru profesor de istorie. 2. Cred c l-am zrit pe John acum cteva minute, pe cnd ncerca s traverseze strada. 3. Cnd am auzit-o cntnd, mi-am dat seama c se simte mult mai bine. 4. Nu i-ai imaginat vreodat c ntr-o zi vei fi profesor n coala n care, cndva, tu nsui ai fost elev? 5. Astzi diminea mi-a spus c va veni s ia prnzul cu noi i uite, e aproape ora patru i el nu a sosit nc. 6. Mi-a spus c se simte nc tnr, dar eu cred c e timpul s ias la pensie. 7. Nu i-a spus ce-i place cel mai mult? 8. Nu l-am vzut de cnd a plecat din oraul nostru, dar tiu c a stat n Frana din 1980 pn n 1985. 9. Abia am ajuns n parc, c a i nceput s plou.
10. N-am neles nc de ce ai spus asta atunci. 11. Ce fel de oameni ai spus c sunt? 12. El a spus c nu a fost dect o glum i c, totui, i va cere iertare. 13. Mary m-a anunat c e bolnav i c nu va putea s ne viziteze zilele acestea, aa cum ne promisese. 14. Niciodat nu-l vzusem n acel birou i numai atunci am neles c el era directorul. 15. Nu l-am ntrebat cnd s-a ntors i nici ct timp va sta aici. 16. El mi-a spus c e btrn, dar c nu a auzit niciodat o voce att de frumoas ca a ei. 17. Nu credea c va mai tri dup o operaie att de grea. 18. Mi-ai repetat de cteva ori pn acum c tii pe cineva care ne-ar putea ajuta. 19. Ieri cnd m-am dus s-mi vd prietena mi s-a spus c plecase de acas de o or. 20. El mi-a spus c pe cnd se ntorcea acas, s-a ntlnit cu un prieten pe care nu-l mai vzuse de cnd a terminat liceul. 21. Maria mi-a spus c locuiete la Londra de cinci ani i c cunoate foaret bine oraul. 22. Mi-a promis c dac m voi duce acolo mi va arta i mie locurile cele mai interesante din ora. 23. El a spus c l-ar ajuta pe Dan dac ar putea.
24. John mi-a spus c btrnul care trecea pe lng geam este unchiul Ioanei. 25. Prietenul meu mi-a spus acum cteva zile c la var nu se va duce la mare. 26. Bieilor li s-a spus c nu au voie s noate lng pod deoarece este foarte periculos. 27. Mi-a mrturisit c ar face o plimbare la lacuri dac vremea ar fi frumoas. 28. Mi-a spus c ar trebui s muncesc mai intens. 29. Nu mi-a spus cnd va veni, dar eram sigur c va fi n ora nainte de Anul Nou. 30. El a vrut s afle de cnd ne cunoatem.