Sequence of the tenses

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Hi everybodyI am studying the sequence of the tenses and I am looking for a good study material. The books that I am using confuse me (each book presents a different or incomplete opinion on this subject). Could you please recommend me a good reference (on line or hard copy doesn't matter) for this topic ?Thank you in advance C

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I am studying the sequence of the tenses and I am looking for a good study material. The books that ... subject). Could you please recommend me a good reference (on line or hard copy doesn't matter) for this topic ?[/nq]
George O. Curme's English Grammar is an excellent, thorough, authoritative, and clear reference to traditional English grammar. New hardcover copies cost the budget of a small nation, but used paperback copies are trivially inexpensive.

The general rule, to which there are various exceptions, is that when the principal proposition is in the past indicative tense, a following proposition must also be in the past. We can write--

"He wants to do it before his father comes home."

--but if we change the main statement to the past, we must change the secondary as well:

"He wanted* to do it before his father *came home."

Some of the exceptions are:

. When the secondary proposition is something habitual or customary or usual or universally true, we use the present tense:

He asked* the stationmaster what time the train usually *leaves.

Columbus demonstrated* that the world *is round.

. When we want to emphasize the relation of the principal proposition to the present or the future, we use the present perfect tense for the secondary proposition:

The old man said* that he *has missed but a single match.

I learned* this morning that they *have begun work on the new roadway.

. When we want to represent the secondary proposition as an action still continuing, we use the present tense:

He told* me that the men *are still at work on the roadway.

. When the secondary proposition refers to a time vividly felt, at the moment of speaking, as future time:

He told* us this morning that he *will be going with us to Paris tomorrow.

There are also some minor exceptions relating to the subjunctive mood.

-- Cordially, Eric Walker My opinions on English are available at http://owlcroft.com/english/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hi everybody I am studying the sequence of the tenses and I am looking for a good study material. The ... subject). Could you please recommend me a good reference (on line or hard copy doesn't matter) for this topic ?[/nq]
Try the "Writing and Grammar Guides" in a.u.e's Intro B:

http://www.alt-usage-english.org/intro_b.shtml

I looked up that same topic a week or two ago. I noticed that different guides appeared to mean different things by the term. So I'm afraid that you might just find more "different or incomplete opinions on this subject," but it's still worth a try.

-- Best wishes -- Donna Richoux

Usenet · Answer

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Hmm. But do we want to emphasize this? Since the missing happened before the saying, the first example is likelier to be
The old man said* that he *had missed but a single match.
and since the beginning happened before the learning, the second example is likelier to be
I learned* this morning that they *had begun work on the new roadway.
unless "I learned" stands for "I've learned."

Sequence of the tenses

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