Sequence of Tenses

11th form
 There are two main rules governing
the Sequence of Tenses :
Rule 1: If there is a Past Tense in the Principal
Clause, it must be followed by Past Tense in the
Subordinate Clause.
Rule 2: A Present or Future Tense in the
Principal Clause may be followed
by a tense required by the sense in the
Subordinate Clause.
 *Special rules*
Exception to Rule 1 : - A Past Tense in the Principal Clause
may be followed by a Present tense in the Subordinate Clause
when the Subordinate Clause expresses some
habitual or universal fact.

(*) Examples :--

1). The teacher taught us that the earth is round.
2). The King said that all men are mortal.
3). He learnt from his experience that pride has a fall.
4). Galileo proved that the earth moves round the sun.
RULE 4. When the Subordinate Clause is
introduced by some Conjunction of comparison,
e.g. than, Rule 1 does not apply at all. Any tense
can be followed by any tense.
NOTE :-- If the comparison is expressed
by as well as instead of than, the same
rule holds good. Any tense may be
followed by any tense, according to the
sense intended by the speaker.
Example :- 1) She likes me as well as
she liked him.
2) She liked me as well as she likes him.
3) She will like me as well as she liked
him.
 Conjunctions of Purpose
When the Subordinate Clause is introduced by a
Conjunction of Purpose, the following two rules must be
observed :
(1) if the Verb in the Principal Clause is in the Present or
Future Tense, the Verb in the Subordinate Clause must
be expressed by may ( Present Tense ).
2) If the Verb in the Principal Clause is in
the past tense, the Verb in the Subordinate
Clause must be expressed by ' might' ( Past
Tense ).

1). He worked hard that he might succeed.

2). He was working hard that he might
succeed.
3). He had worked hard that he might
succeed.
4). He had been working hard that he might
succeed.
 Note!
If the Conjunction introducing the Subordinate
the Subordinate Clause is lest, the Verb in the
Subordinate Clause is always should, whatever
may be tense of the Verb in the Principal
Clause
According to the rules of the use of tenses, the
simple present is used instead of the simple
future in adverbial clauses of time and
condition referring to the future.

He will ask her about it when he sees her

tomorrow.
She will visit them tomorrow if she has time.