483. The principle in accordance with which the Tense of the Verb in the Subordinate
Clause follows the Tense of the Verb in the Principal Clause is known as the
Sequence of Tenses.
484. There are two main rules governing the Sequence of Tenses :---
RULE 1). If there is a Past Tense in the Principal Clause, it must be followed by a
Past Tense in the Subordinate Clause.
Examples :---
(*) RULE 2). A Present or Future Tense in the Principal Clause may be followed by any
tense required by the sense in the Subordinate Clause.
(*) Examples :--
(*) Special Rules (*)
485. Besides these two main rules, there are three special rules :---
(*) RULE 3. (Exception to Rule 1 ) : - A Past Tense in the Principal Clause may be followed by a Present tense in the Subordinate Clause when the Subordinate Clause expresses some habitual or
universal fact.
(*) Examples :--
1). The teacher taught us that the earth is round.
2). The King said that all men are mortal.
3). He learnt from his experience that pride has a fall.
4). Galileo proved that the earth moves round the sun.
(*) RULE 4. When the Subordinate Clause is introduced by some Conjunction of
comparison, e.g. than, Rule 1 does not apply at all. Any tense can be followed
by any tense.
NOTE :-- If the comparison is expressed by as well as instead of than, the same rule
holds good. Any tense may be followed by any tense, according to the sense
intended by the speaker.
(*) Example :- 1) She likes me as well as she liked him.
2) She liked me as well as she likes him.
3) She will like me as well as she liked him.
(*) RULE 5 . ( Conjunctions of Purpose ). When the Subordinate Clause is introduced by a
Conjunction of Purpose, the following two rules must be observed :--
(1) if the Verb in the Principal Clause is in the Present or Future Tense, the Verb in the
Subordinate Clause must be expressed by may ( Present Tense ).
(2) If the Verb in the Principal Clause is in the past tense, the Verb in the Subordinate Clause must be expressed by ' might' ( Past Tense ).
1). He worked hard that he might succeed.
2). He was working hard that he might succeed.
3). He had worked hard that he might succeed.
4). He had been working hard that he might succeed.
NOTE ;-- If the Conjunction introducing the Subordinate the Subordinate Clause is lest,
the Verb in the Subordinate Clause is always should, whatever may be tense of
the Verb in the Principal Clause .
