The sequence of tenses in a subordinate clause of a conditional sentence

Question

Hello

Help me, please. Is it correct to use the exceptions from the rules of the sequence of tenses in conditional sentences? Here is an example:

"If I were ever to meet her again, I would tell her what I thought of her?"

So, is it correct to say this:

"If I were ever to meet her again, I would tell her what I think of her"

?

Thanks for any help!

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

nkspb"If I were ever to meet her again, I would tell her what I think of her"

Yes, that's fine.

CalifJim · Answer

nkspbis it correct to say this:"If I were ever to meet her again, I would tell her what I think of her"

It's correct. Into the fictitious world where you meet her and tell her something, you've inserted the real-world entity "what I think of her". That you might meet her and that you might tell her something are ideas in your imagination. But "what I think of her" is something you can say right now (though it wouldn't reach her ears), so it's not imagined.

CJ

Nkspb · Answer

Thanks! I'd like to clarify, please. If we used 'what I thought' instead, that could mean that:

1. I would tell her what I thought of her some time ago from the now

2. I would tell her the thoughts I don't have now, but what I could think of her at the moment we met next time.

Is it correct?

CalifJim · Answer

nkspbThanks! I'd like to clarify, please. If we used 'what I thought' instead, that could mean that:1. I would tell her what I thought of her some time ago from the now2. I would tell her the thoughts I don't have now, but what I could think of her at the moment we met next time.Is it correct?

Yes. It could mean those things, more likely the first.

CJ

Nkspb · Answer

Thanks a lot! Funny enough, while writing the previous post I ran into a new confusion

Could you please tell me whether I get it right: when we use a conditional sentence of the second or third type and continue describing the situation, a past tense should be used all the way through? Here is my example:

If I were ever to meet her again, I would tell her what I thought of her because after she saw/see me she would/will want to know the truth.

This sentence might not make a lot of sense, but I am just trying to convey the question

As I think, using a present tense here is wrong. What do you think?

Thanks!

CalifJim · Answer

Oof! Learners always seem to come up with sentences that native speakers would never dream of saying, even in their worst nightmares! When a sentence gets this complicated, control of the exact sequence of tenses may go out the window because the speaker himself can't remember at the end of the sentence what he said at the beginning. I may need a cup of coffee before I tackle this one.

nkspbIf I were ever to meet her again, I would tell her what I thought of her because after she saw/see me she would/will want to know the truth.

I don't think the part with 'after she saw me' is really needed. I'd use 'when' instead of 'after'. Here's what you can do:

If I were ever to meet her again, I would tell her what I [think/thought] of her because (when she saw me) she would want to know the truth.

That's about as "standard English" as you can get. 'think' conveys what you think now, at the time you are saying this sentence. 'thought' can also mean what you think now OR what you thought at some time in the past OR what you will be thinking when you really do see her. There is so much complexity in the time relationships and in the distinctions between what is real and what is hypothetical that the speaker and listener may have to rely on cues from the rest of the conversation to disambiguate the precise meaning — if such a very precise meaning is even needed, which it usually isn't.

CJ

The sequence of tenses in a subordinate clause of a conditional sentence

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions