Sequence of Tenses Theory

The main rule of sequence of tenses is: IF THE VERB IN MAIN CLAUSE IS IN THE PAST...

• THE VERB IN THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE IS IN THE PAST

• THE VERB IN THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE IS IN THE PRESENT

• THE VERB IN THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE IS IN THE FUTURE-IN-THE-PAST

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1B

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

Is the sentence correct?

He said he is about to cry.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.6.3A

IF THE EVENT IN THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE HAPPENS AT THE SAME TIME AS THE EVENT IN THE MAIN CLAUSE...

• We use Present Simple

• We use Past Simple

• We use Past Continuous

• We use Future-in-the-Past

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1B

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

What is the correct example of FUTURE-IN-THE-PAST?

• He said he will order juice.

• She will have said about her exam.

• Lucy said she would leave in a couple of hours.

• Mom will be here tomorrow.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1B

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

What is the correct sentence?

• We told them we were going to get some sushi.

• She told we were very arrogant at the meeting.

• Mike said we are too weak to do this exercise.

• Mike said the Sun is a star.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.6.3A

IF THE EVENT IN THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE HAPPENS AFTER THE EVENT IN THE MAIN CLAUSE WE USE...

• Only Future Simple

• Either Future Continious or Future Simple

• Future-in-the-Past

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1B

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

What is the correct sentence?

• He told us he participated in the creation of this movie in 2011.

• He told us he had participated in the creation of this movie in 2011.

• He told us he would have participated in the creation of this movie in 2011.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.6.3A

Choose the sentence with a highlighted main clause.

• I ate rotten bananas because I was satrving.

• I first saw her in a small bakery, when she was buying cupcakes for her husband.

• After I called her, she was anxious about the news.

• Before she smiled to me kindly, I wanted to leave the party.

“John has written a great poem,” she said.

• She said John has written a great poem.

• She said that she had written a great poem.

• She said that John had written a great poem.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.6.3A

“I may go to the mall with Janice,” he said

• He said that he might go to the mall with Janice.

• He said he may go to the mall with Janice.

• I will go to the mall with Janice he told me.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.6.3A