English Grammar Sequences of Tenses | Exercises | Notes

SEQUENCE OF TENSES

The sequence of tenses is the principle in accordance with which the tense of the verb in a subordinate clause follows, the tense of the verb in the principle clause.
The sequence of tense applies chiefly to adverb clauses of purpose and noun clauses.
1. A past tense in the principal clause is followed by a past tense in the subordinete clause.
e.g. He hinted that he wanted money.
He saw that the clock had stopped.
There are two exceptions to this rule :
(i) A past tense in the principal clause may be followed by a present tense in the subordinate clause when the subordinate clause expresses a universal truth.
e.g. Galileo maintained that the earth moves round the sun.
He said that honesty is the best policy.
ii) When the subordinate clause is introduced by than, even if there is a past tense in the principal clause, it may be followed by any tense required by the sense in the subordinate clause.
e.g. He liked you better than he likes me.
I then saw him oftener than I see him now.

2.A present or future tense in the principal clause may be followed by any tense required by the sense.
e.g. He thinks that she is there.
He will think that she will be there.
But in sentences where the subordinate clause denotes purpose, if the verb in the principal clause is present or future the verb in the subordinate clause must be present.
e.g. I eat that I may live.
I shall nurse him so that he can live.

MODALS

Modals are those helping verbs that express the mode of action denoted by the main verb. Following are the members of the family of the modals : Shall, will, should, would, can could, may, might, must, ought to, used to, need, dare.

Use of Shall and Will.

1. Shall with first person is used simply to express simple future tense. But it is possible only in the case of assertive sentences.
e.g. I shall buy a car.

2. Shall can be also used with second/third persons under following conditions :
(i) If the sentence conveys the sense of a threat.
e.g. You shall be punished if you do not change your habit.
(ii) If the sentence conveys the sense of a promise.
e.g. He shall be given a reward for his ability.
(iii) If the sentence conveys the sense of an order.
e.g. You shall have to take action against him.
(iv) If the sentence conveys the sense of a certainty or determination.
e.g. You shall do what I command.

3. Will just does the opposite of shall. In an assertive sentence, it expresses simple future tense with second and third persons.
e.g. You will write a letter.
She will sing a song.
But with the first person, will is used as follows :
(i) If the sentence conveys the sense of a threat.
e.g. I will break your head.
(ii) If the sentence conveys the sense of a promise.
e.g. I will surely help hero.
(iii) If the sentence conveys the sense of a determination.
e.g. I will go to New Delhi tomorrow.

Use of Should (Past form of Shall)

1. To express the future in the past tense
e.g. I told him that I should go to Mumbai the next day.
He said that you should report for duty on Monday.

2. To express duty or obligation.
e.g. We should respect our elders.
We should help the poor.

3. To express advice or suggestion.
e.g. You should work hard to pass the examination.
She should not go out bare foot.

4. To express request.
e.g. I should like to say that he is not to blame.

5. To express surprise.
e.g. It is really sad that he should lose in the first round.
It is very surprising that they should lose the match.

6. To express supposition or improbable action.
e.g. Shoud they work hard, they will pass.

7. With lest in order to express purpose.
e.g. I worked hard lest I should fail.
Walk fast lest you should miss the train.

8. To make conditional sentences.
e.g. Should it rain, we shall not go out.
Should you speak truth, I shall pardon you.

Use of Would (Past form of Will)

1. As the future tense of past in the indirect speech
e.g. He said that he would not take tea.
He told me that he would go to Mumbai.

2. To express past habit:
e.g. She would go out for a walk daily.
He would sit and talk every morning.

3. To express determination.
e.g. I would stand by him in any trouble.
He would go out for a walk regularly.

4. To express suggestion.
e.g. Would you take care of your health ?
5. To express polite request:
e.g. Would you please give me your book.
Would you take a cup of tea?

6.To express wish or desire :
e.g. Would than I were a king !
Would than I were rich !

7. To express preference:
e.g. I would prefer death to dishonour.
He would rather starve than beg.

8. To express unreal condition.
e.g. If I were rich, I would buy a car.

Use of Can

Can means to be able to or know how to. It is used to express strength may be physical, mental, of the official authority, of wealth etc.
1. To express ability.
e.g. He can speak English fluently.
I can solve this question easily.

2. Tb express possibility.
e.g. The principal can also fine him.

3. To express permission.
e.g. You can go for a picnic now.
You can go home after doing your work.

4. In the form of phrase.

e.g. I can’t help laughing.
The child can’t help weeping.

5. To express disposition.
e.g. She can tell a lie at any time.

Use of Could

Could is the past tense of can and is used in the indirect form as follows :
1. Past tense of power
e.g. He asked me if I could help him.
I asked him if he could play football.

2. Past tense of ability.
e.g. She could not climb the tree.
He could sing and speak well.

3. Past tense of polite request:
e.g. Could you lend me your book ?
Could you please post this letter ?

4. Past tense of possibility:
e.g. If I had spare money, I could buy that beautiful watch.

5. Feeling of impatience:
e.g. What could I do now ?
How could it happen ?

6. Past tense phrase:
e.g. The child couldn’t help weeping.

Use of May

1. To express permission
e.g. May I come in sir ?
Yes you may.
2. Possibility
e.g. It may rain today.
You may get a prize.

3. To express purpose
e.g. We eat so that we may live.
He works hard so that he may pass.

4. To express wish or prayer
e.g. May you live long !
May God bless you with a son !

Use of Might

It is the past form of may and used as follows

1. The past tense of may
e.g. I asked him if I might see his watch.

2. To express the past tense of purpose
e.g. He ran fast so that he might catch the train.
He played well so that he might win the match.

3. To express doubtful possibility
e.g. He has not worked hard, but he might pass.
She is working hard, she might win a scholarship.

4. To express past tense of possibility
e.g. The teacher said that I might win a scholarship.
The doctor said that the patient might recover soon.

5. To express permission in the past tense
e.g. The teacher said that we might go for the picnic.
The captain said that we might play match.

6. To express some future condition
e.g. If he gets money, he might go to America. If she works hard, she might top the class.

7. To express good wishes in the past
e.g. The teacher wished that I might live long. We wished that India might win the world cup. – * ^

Use of Must

Must is used to express
1. Necessity
e.g. You must help your friend in the hour of need.
You must run fast to catch the train.

2. Obligation
e.g. Soldiers must obey their commanders. Parents must look after their children.

3. Determination
e.g. I must leave for Mumbai today.
I must try my luck.

4. Compulsion
e.g. We must follow the rules of road.
You must not hurt the others feeling.

5. Certainty or belief
e.g. He must have lost his temper.
She must have broken my heart.

6. Emphatic advice
e.g. You must learn your lessons regularly.
They must serve their old parents.

7. Possibility
e.g. He must have received my letter by now.
The teacher must have finished his course by this time.