sequence of tenses

I'm sure that you have read the arguments as thoroughly as I, Taka, but as far as I'm concerned, #2 is fine if the email still obviously exists. #4 is fine by the normal rule of sequencing-- #3 (immediate reporting) is an option, not a rule.

Mister Micawber #4 is fine by the normal rule of sequencing

Oh, I thought #3 was normal by the rule of sequencing: I thought when the main clause was present perfect, normally the tense of the subordinate clause was present...

Konnichiwa, Taka!

TakaOh, I thought #3 was normal by the rule of sequencing: I thought when the main clause was present perfect, normally the tense of the subordinate clause was present...

This is not necessarily so. The rule says that, if a main clause verb is in a present tense, you may use any needed tense in a subordinate clause.

For instance:

Ruslana

He said "I love Ruslana".


He said he loved Ruslana.

He said he loves Ruslana. [ This is fine.]




He said "I will go to Russian next week".


He said he will go to Russia next week. [ I wouldn't wite this.]

He said he would go to Russian next week. [This is fine.]

Thanks, Rotter. But from what I have learnt while in this forum, all the sentences you wrote are correct.

Oh, I thought #3 was normal by the rule of sequencing: I thought when the main clause was present perfect, normally the tense of the subordinate clause was present.

We may both be a little confused, Taka. In (4) I've just received an e-mail from my father which said he was coming to Tokyo tomorrow, t

(Yes, all Rotter's sentences look fine to me too.)