Present tense in subordinate clause

Question

"I help him with his financial problems so that he repays me one day."
I understand that the clause after "so that" is in present tense though it refers to a future event because it is the subordinate clause.
But if we change the entire sentence to the past tense, it becomes:
1. "I helped him with his financial problems so that he repaid me one day."
or
2. "I helped him with his financial problems so that he would repay me one day."
What is the difference between sentences #1 and #2 ?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Debpriya De1. "I helped him with his financial problems so that he repaid me one day."
or
2. "I helped him with his financial problems so that he would repay me one day.

#1 is not acceptable.

In your original present tense version (habitual behavior):
"I help him with his financial problems so that he repays me one day."

I'm not exactly sure why you feel you must use present simple in the subordinate clause.
In my opinion, "so that he will repay me one day" is equally acceptable, although the meaning is arguably different.
If you use this version of the future tense, then your sentence #2 is clearly explainable, using "would" as the past tense of "will."

I think the problem with your #1 is not exactly the tense, but your use of "one day."
This seems to imply that the repayment would occur only once, which seems inconsistent with habitual behavior.

I believe you could say:
I help him with his financial problems so that he subsequently repays me.

It all depends on whether you mean that you now look forward to a single repayment, or that you habitually looked forward to a repayment in connection with each [habitual] assistence.

Edit. I agree that DrD's use of present continuous eliminates your question.

Doctor D · Answer

To begin with, I would not word the first sentence as it now stands.

"I help him with his financial problems so that he repays me one day."
I am helping him with his financial problems so that he will repay me one day.
(The help is in the present and the repayment is in the future.)

Now as to the past tense versions:

1. "I helped him with his financial problems so that he repaid me one day."
This is trying to say that both the help and the repayment already occurred (in the past).
However, I would not use "so that". I would say: "I helped him with his financial problems, so (therefore) he repaid me one day."

2. "I helped him with his financial problems so that he would repay me one day."
This says that the help occurred already but the repayment may or may not have been made. (You helped him in the hope of one day being repaid.)

Let me know if you need more explanation.

Present tense in subordinate clause

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