MODULE 4: THE SEQUENCE OF TENSES

Mộ t câ u có thể bao gồ m mộ t mệnh đề chính (main clause) và mộ t hoặ c nhiều mệnh đề phụ
(subordinate clause). Khi trong câ u có hai mệnh đề trở lên, cá c độ ng từ phả i có sự phố i hợ p
về thì.
 Một số cách hòa hợp thì giữa mệnh đề chính và mệnh đề thời gian:
Main clause Adverbial clause of time
(Mệnh đề chính) (Mệnh đề trạng ngữ chỉ thời gian)
Hiện tạ i Hiện tạ i
Quá khứ Quá khứ
Tương lai Hiện tạ i

Sự phối hợp thì trong mệnh đề trạng ngữ chỉ thời gian:
Trong QUÁ KHỨ :
S + V (quá khứ đơn) WHEN + S + V (quá khứ đơn)
diễ n tả hà nh độ ng xả y Eg: He smiled at me when he saw me.
ra nố i tiếp nhau Trong TƯƠNG LAI:
S + V (tương lai đơn) WHEN + S + V (hiện tại đơn)
Eg: I will remind him to call you when I see him.
Trong QUÁ KHỨ :
S + V (quá khứ tiếp diễn) WHEN + S + V (quá khứ đơn)
diễ n tả mộ t hà nh độ ng Eg: She was cooking dinner when I came to see her.
đang xả y ra thì có hà nh
Trong TƯƠNG LAI:
WHEN độ ng khá c xen và o
S + V (tương lai tiếp diễn) WHEN + S + V (hiện tại đơn)
Eg: Your boss will be waiting for you there when you come in.
Trong QUÁ KHỨ :
S + V (quá khứ hoàn thành) WHEN + S + V (quá khứ đơn),
diễ n tả mộ t hà nh độ ng Eg: The plane had taken off when I arrived at the airport.
xả y ra xong trướ c mộ t Trong TƯƠNG LAI:
hà nh độ ng khá c S + V(tương lai hoàn thành) WHEN + S + V (hiện tại đơn).
Eg: They will have finished building a new bridge when you return
to the town.
Trong QUÁ KHỨ :
AS SOON AS + S + V (quá khứ đơn), S + V (quá khứđơn)
Eg: As soon as she saw a mouse, she shouted and ran away.
AS SOON diễ n tả hà nh độ ng xả y
Trong TƯƠNG LAI:
AS ra nố i tiếp nhau
S + V (tương lai đơn) AS SOON AS + S + V (hiện tại đơn/hiện tại
hoàn thành)
Eg: I will call you as soon as I have finished / finish the work.
S + V (hiện tại hoàn thành) + SINCE + V (quá khứ đơn)
SINCE diễ n tả nghĩa “từ khi’’
Eg: We have known each other since we were at high school.
BY + diễ n tả hà nh độ ng kết Trong QUÁ KHỨ :
TIME thú c tính đến mộ t điểm BY + trạng từ của quá khứ + S + V (quá khứ hoàn thành)
nà o đó trong quá Eg: By last month, we had worked for the company for 9 years.
khứ /tương lai
Trong TƯƠNG LAI:
BY + trạng từ của tương lai + S + V (tương lai hoàn thành)
Eg: By next month, we will have worked for the company for 9 years.
AT diễ n tả hà nh độ ng đang Trong QUÁ KHỨ :
 THIS/ xả y ra tạ i mộ t thờ i điểm AT THIS/THAT TIME + trạng từ của quá khứ + S + V (quá khứ
THAT xá c định trong quá tiếp diễn)
TIME khứ /tương lai Eg: At this time last week, we were preparing for Tet.
Trong TƯƠNG LAI:
AT THIS/THAT TIME + trạng từ của tương lai + S + V (tương lai
tiếp diễn)
Eg: At this time next week, we will be having a big party in the garden.
Trong QUÁ KHỨ :
S + V (quá khứ hoàn thành) BY THE TIME + S + V (quá khứ đơn)
BY THE Eg: Everyone had gone to bed by the time she got home.
diễ n tả nghĩa “và o lú c”
TIME Trong TƯƠNG LAI:
S + V (tương lai hoàn thành) BY THE TIME + S + V (hiện tại đơn)
Eg: Everyone will have gone to bed by the time she gets home.
Trong QUÁ KHỨ :
S + V (quá khứ đơn) AFTER + S + V (quá khứ hoàn thành)
diễ n tả hà nh độ ng xả y Eg: She went out for a walk after she had done her homework.
AFTER ra xong rồ i mớ i tớ i
Trong TƯƠNG LAI:
hà nh độ ng khá c
S + V (hiện tại đơn) AFTER + S + V (hiện tại hoàn thành)
Eg: She goes out for a walk after she has done her homework.
Trong QUÁ KHỨ :
S + V (quá khứ hoàn thành) before + S + V (quá khứ đơn),
diễ n tả hà nh độ ng xả y
Eg: She had locked all the doors before she went to bed.
BEFORE ra xong trướ c khi có
Trong TƯƠNG LAI:
hà nh độ ng khá c tớ i
S + V (tương lai hoàn thành) BEFORE + S + V (hiện tại đơn),
Eg: Hurry up or the film will have ended before we go to the movie.
S + V (tương lai đơn)/ V(bare)/DON’T + V(bare) + UNTIL/TILL + S + V
UNTIL/ diễ n tả nghĩa “cho tớ i (hiện tại đơn/hiện tại hoàn thành)
TILL khi” Eg: I will wait for you until it is possible.
Wait here until I come back.

Exercise 1. Choose the best answer for each of the following sentences
1.In the last hundred years, traveling _______ much easier and more comfortable.
A. becomes B. has become C. became D. will become
2.Doctor Pike ______ the hospital after he ______ an uneventful evening on duty. He ______ of his day of rest.
A. was leaving / has had / thought B. left / had had / was thinking
C. will leave / had / will think D. is leaving / will have / thinks
3.At this time next week, all of the students__________for their examinations.
A. will be sat B. have been sitting C. have sat D. will be sitting
4. Don’t worry! By the time you arrive tomorrow, we _______ the work
A. have finished B. would finish C. will finish D. will have finished
5. Last night at this time, they _______ the same thing. She _______ and he the Newspaper.
A. are doing / is cooking / is reading B. were doing / was cooking / was reading
C. was doing / has cooked / is reading D. had done / was cooking /read
6. By the time they arrive at the theater, the movie ______________.
A. is ending B. would end C. will end D. will have ended
7. In one year’s time, she________for this company for 15 years.
A. will be working B. will have been working C. will work D. has worked
8. By the time the software________on sale next month, the company________$2 million on developing it.
A. went - had spent B. will go - has spent C. has gone - will spend D. goes - will have spent
9. By the time he arrives here tomorrow, they________for London.
A. would have left B. will have left C. will left D. are leaving
10. In the past the trip _______ very rough and often dangerous, but things _______ a great deal in the last
hundred and fifty years.
A. was / have changed B. is / change C. had been / will change D. has been / changed
11. As soon as you _______ all your homework, you will be allowed to go out.
A. are doing B. had done C. did D. have done
12. At 5 o'clock tomorrow evening, I ________ my clothes.
A. iron B. will have ironed C. am ironing D. will be ironing
13.He will take the dog out for a walk .
A. as soon as he finished dinner B. as soon as he will finish
C. as soon as he has finished B. as soon as he was finishing
14. Alan took a photograph of Sandra while she________
A. didn't look B. wasn't looking C. hasn't looked D. hadn't looked
15. The child________ before the doctor arrived.
A. died B. had died C. has died D. was dying
16. I'll come and see you before I ________ for America.
A. leave B. will leave C. have left D. shall leave
17. Don’t worry! I will give her this message as soon as she _______.
A. had returned B. will return C. returned D. returns
18. While Tom ________ tennis, Ann was taking a shower.
A. played B. playing C. was playing D. is playing
19. Her family________ to America before 1975.
A. went B. have gone C. had gone D. would go
20. I looked for my bag after I _______ lunch.
A. had B. had had C. have has D. have had
21. After he had had breakfast, he _______down to write some letters.
A. sat B. had sat C. sits D. was sitting
22. Nam has lived with his grandparents since he _______ a little boy.
A. is B. was C. has been D. had been
23. He will take the dog out for a walk as soon as he _______ dinner.
A. finish B. finishes C. will finish D. finishing
24. I hope you’ll remember to call me when you _______ in Paris.
A. are arriving B. will be arriving C. will arrive D. arrive
25. In the last ten years, we _______ some important achievements.
A. have achieved B. had achieved C. were achieved D. achieved
26. You _______ me for money. Ask somebody else.
A. have always asked B. are always asked C. are always asking D. always ask
27. Students _______ for the national examinations at this time next month.
A. will have sat B. sit C. will sit D. will be sitting
28. Titanic is the best film I’ve ever seen. I _______ it seven times.
A. had watched B. am watching C. watched D. have watched
29. This is the first time I ________ here.
A. am B. have been C. was D. be
30. While I was working in the garden, my son____ video games.
A. was playing B. played C. has played D. has been playing
31. Tom _______ the house before he writes a letter tonight.
A. will be cleaning B. will have cleaned C. had cleaned D. has cleaned
32. You _______ the windows open at night. Close them right away.
A. have always left B. always leave C. always left D. are always leaving
34. It's ages since I last saw a good cowboy film.
A. I have seen this cowboy film for ages. B. I haven't seen a good cowboy film since ages.
C. I haven't seen a good cowboy film for ages. D. The cowboy film has been good for ages.
35. It's a long time since I saw a movie.
A. I spent a long time looking for a movie to see. B. I have seen some movies so far.
C. I haven't seen movie for a long time. D. I saw a movie that took very long time.
36. He last had his car repaired 2 weeks ago.
A. He hasn't had his car repaired for 2 weeks. B. He had repaired his car § weeks before.
C. He had not repaired his car for 2 weeks then. D. He didn't have any repair to his car in 2 weeks.
37. She hasn’t seen her family for years.
A. She didn’t see her family for a long time. B. It’s the last time she saw her family years ago.
C. It’s years ago she has seen her family. D. It’s years since she last saw her family.
38. She began to play the piano three years ago.
A. She has played the piano since three years. B. She has played the piano for three years.
C. She doesn't play the piano now. D. She stops playing the piano now.
39. We last went to the cinema two months ago.
A. We haven't gone to the cinema for two months. B. We didn't go to the cinema for two months.
C. We didn't want to go to the cinema any more. D. We stopped going to the cinema.
40. I have not met her for three years.
A. The last time I met her was three years ago. B. It is three years when I will meet her.
C. I did not meet her three years ago. D. During three years, I met her once.
41. I have not seen Tom for ages.
A. It has been a long time since I last saw Tom. B. Tom and I do not look the same age.
C. Tom and I are friends for a long time. D. I often met Tom ages ago.
42. The last time I went to the museum was a year ago.
A. I have not been to the museum for a year. B. A year ago, I often went to the museum.
C. My going to the museum lasted a year. D. At last I went to the museum after a year.
43. I have not seen her for three years.
A. I have often seen her for the last three years. B. About three years ago, I used to meet her.
C. The last time when I saw her was three years ago.
D. I saw her three years ago and will never meet her again.
44. I haven’t spoken to her for ten years.
A. I have often spoken to her for the last ten years B. About ten years ago, I used to speak to her
C. The last time when I spoke to her was ten years ago
D. I spoke to her ten years ago and I will never speak to her again.
45. When did you begin to work here?
A. How long did you work here? B. How long did you begin working here?
C. How long are you working here? D. How long have you been working here?
46.The last time I went to the museum was a year ago.
A. I have not been to the museum for a year. B. A year ago, I often went to the museum.
C. My going to the museum lasted a year. D. At last I went to the museum after a year.
47. She has cooked for dinner for two hours.
A. She didn't start cooking for dinner until it was two. B. She started cooking for dinner two hours ago.
C. She has two hours to cook for dinner. D. Cooking for dinner took her two hours.
48. I started working here in 2000.
A. I have started work here since 2000. B. I haven't worked here since 2000.
C. I have started working here since 2000. D. I have worked here since 2000.
49. It's two years since he last went home.
A. He hasn't gone home for two years. B. The last time he went home was two years ago.
C. He didn't go home two years ago. D. Both A & B are correct.
50. We have been drawing the picture for four hours.
A. We started drawing the picture four hours ago. B. We didn't start drawing the picture until four.
C. We have four hours to draw the picture. D. Drawing the picture will be done in four hours.
Exercise 2. Choose the underlined word or phrase that needs correcting.
1. Last year, my son was lost among the crowd while we went shopping.
2. They have studied English before they went to London last month.
3. When Sam will arrive, he will open the gift.
4. When we arrived at the station, the train has already left.
5. By the time you will finish your work, the meal will have got cold.
6. We went out for a walk after we had our dinner.
7. Don’t leave the house until I will get back.
8. By the time the police come, the robber had run away.
9. As soon as the next lecture will end, let’s leave.
10. He never goes home before he will finish his work
11. During the school year, I’m not allowed to watch television when I’ve finished my homework.