Wednesday, 22 June 2016

SEQUENCE OF TENSES

1. A Past Tense in principal clause follows a Past Tense in subordinate clause.
Eg:- The patient said that he felt better.
         He worked hard that he might pass.

2. A Past Tense in principal clause may be followed by a present in the subordinate if Universal Truths are expressed.
Eg:- He said that two plus two is four.
        He said that time and tide waits for none.

3. A Past Tense in principal clause may be followed by any Tense if the subordinate clause is introduced by "Than".
Eg:- He came often than we expected.
        He comes often than we expect.
        He comes often than we will expect.

4. A principal clause in present/future may be followed by any Tense required by the sense.
Eg:- He says that he is a teacher.
        He says that he was a teacher.
        He says that he will be a teacher.
        He will say that he is a teacher.
        He will say that he was a teacher.
        He will say that he will be a teacher.

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