Sequence of Tenses
Prepared by Kate Sampara
Eph – 13 (1)
The aim
My research paper is devoted by exploring such phenomenon as’ the
sequence of tenses’. It’s a great problem in a Modern English, because
if we want to be a good at knowing English well, we shall have to
speak English fluently and to be a good speaker. We should know the
concept and how to apply it for several important reasons.
The aim of our research paper is:
to investigate different points of view referring to this problem.
So:
Understanding the sequence of tenses will help you do
many things:
 It helps you explain what someone else said (indirect
quotations)
 It helps you with conditional sentences (using the word
"if")
 It helps you make sentences using the word "wish"
Hi! I am a
caterpillar and
my name is
Direct Speech!
I want to
fly like
other
animals…
I am butterfly!!
My dreams come
true!! Name my
Indirect Speech
now! 
Our friend said he
wanted to fly like
other animals and
now… HE IS WERY
HAPPY! 
Like our friend has changed from the
caterpillar into the beautiful butterfly we
change Direct Speech into Indirect according
to the Sequence of Tenses. The rule states:
if the verb in the principal clause is in one of
the past tenses, a past tense must be used
in the subordinate clause. The action
expressed in the subordinate clause can be
simultaneous with the action expressed in
the principal clause, prior or posterior to that
of the principal clause.
Modal verbs
Will
Would
Could
Can
May
Might
Must or had to
Must
Could have done
Might have done
Should have done
Need’t have done
Do not change
Time and place changes
Here
This
These
Now
Today
Yesterday
A year ago
Last night
Tonight
there
that
those
then / at that moment
that day
the day before / the previous day
a year before
the previous night
that night
Adverb changes depend on the
context. It is not always necessary to
make these changes, especially in
spoken Indirect Speech.
Spheres where the Sequence of Tenses is applied are:
1.


2.
The object clause:
My father told me that corn had not got a mouth. [ p. 380]
Ms. Audubon said this was to be his day for observing them. [p. 578]
If there are several subordinate clauses in sentence the rule is observed
in all of them.

I thought he would tell her that he intended to go to the village. [p. 222]
( Я думав, що він скаже їй про те, що він збирається поїхати до села).
3.
The Sequence of Tenses is not observed if the object clause expresses a
general truth or something is represented as habitual, customary or
characteristic.

Copernicus proved that the earth moves round the sun.

The teacher told us that honesty is the best policy. [p. 168]

He told me that the Hindus burn their dead.[ p. 356]
4. Expressions such as as if, if only, it is time and wish that
are usually followed by past tenses.

I wish I was a bit taller.

It is time we started working [ p. 125]

He talks as if he knew everything
5.
In attributive clauses, adverbial clauses of cause and comparison
we also use Present or Future.

My brother told me about the book you are writing.

He was not able to translate the article because he doesn’t know
English well enough.

He refused to go to the theatre because he will have an exam in a
few days.

It was not so cold yesterday as it is now [p. 267]

He was once stronger than he is now.
6.

When we say how long something has been happening the
sentence can have double meaning. It depends on the context or
situation.
I knew that she had been ill for two months.
Я знав, що вона хворіє вже два місяця.
Я знав, що вона хворіла два місяця.
Past Indefinite can stay the same if we use:
In 1945
2 years ago
Yesterday
Last week
When he came
• He said that he left Moscow 5 years
ago.
• He knew that Peter was at home
yesterday [ p. 365 ]
• She said she was working when I
rang her up.
7. The Past Indefinite after “since” generally remains unchanged.
 She said , I have been writing since I came.
She said she had been writing since she came.
So a useful general
rule is: we move the
reported clauses
“one tense back”
(present becomes
past, past
becomes past
perfect, will
becomes would)
Conclusion
Theoretical grammar is quite an important in mastering
English language. It forms the foundation of knowledge
and helps to use the language with no efforts. Using
verbs in correct sequence is often difficult. In order to
determine correct verb sequence, you must be able to
identify independent and dependent clauses.
Funny exercises 








Tom said that it (take) him an hour to get to the station.
Mary asked her brother if he (can) tell her the way to the shop.
Mother said she (have) a bad headache. Don't bother her.
Dorothy asked Margaret if she (be) going to buy a new dress in the
nearest future.
They told us they (visit) the Tretyakovskaya gallery next Sunday.
Jack said that he already (write) the letter.
They asked if the work (finish) by tomorrow.
Resources :
 1) Thomson A. J., Martinet A. V. A Practical English Grammar. –
Fourth Edition, - Oxford University Press, 1999 [p. 243-244]
 2) Алєксєєва І. О. Курс теоретичної граматики сучасної
англійської мови: навчальний посібник. – Вінниця: Нова Книга,
2007. – [p.99-100]
3) Дроздова Т. Ю., Берестова А. И., Маилова В. Г. English
Grammar: Reference and Practice. СПб: ООО Издательство
“Химера”, 2000. -[p.45-46]
4) Паращук В. Ю., Грицюк Л. Ф. Практикум з граматики
англійської мови: Навчальний посібник для студентів іноземних
мов,спец. “англійська мова”. – Вінниця: Нова книга, 2002
5)