THE SEQUENCE OF TENSES & THE REPORTED SPEECH

THE SEQUENCE OF TENSES

We use the sequence of tenses when we have a sentence containing a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
e.g. We knew that the bridge was unsafe. He gave it to me because he trusted me. He said that he had never been in Rome.

When the main verb of a sentence is in a past tense, verbs in subordinate clauses are in a past tense also. The infinitives, gerunds, must, might, could, should, would are not affected by the above rule. e.g. He wants to go there. He wanted to go there. He likes riding. He liked riding.

Main clause

Subordinate clause

Present Simple Future Simple He thinks it will rain. Past Simple would + inf. He thought it would rain. Present Simple Present Perfect He sees that he has made a mistake Past Simple Past Perfect He saw that he had made a mistake. Present Perfect Present Simple He has done all that is necessary. Past Perfect Past Simple He had done all that was necessary. Present Simple Present Continuous He says that he is going to eat it. Past Simple Past Continuous He said that he was going to eat it.

Exercise 1
1. I knew that she (visit) Madrid before, so I (ask) her to recommend a good hotel. 2. She promised to help me if I (not find) the answer myself. 3. He said that they (know) each other for many years. 4. I saw that at that moment she (try) to hold back her tears at. 5. He knew that she (cry) as her eyes were red. 6. I asked her if she (go) there with me, but she said no.

7. I wanted to see her but I (not know) if she was in town.

8. She said that the robber (attack) her. 9. He told me that he would visit them when he (return) from Spain. 10.They noticed they (fly) for three hours already. 11.Tom said that it (take) him an hour to get to the station. 12.She asked them if they (play) tennis in the afternoon. 13.Mary asked her brother if he (can) tell her the way to the shop. 14.Peter and John told me they (go) to the Kremlin the day before yesterday.

Exercise 2

Exercise 3
15.Mother said she (have) a bad headache. 16.Dorothy asked Margaret if she (be) going to buy a new dress in the nearest future. 17.They told us they (visit) the Tretyakovskaya gallery next Sunday. 18.Jack said that he already (write) the letter. 19.They asked if they (finish) the work tomorrow. 20.The teacher asked the boys if they (solve) the equation.

21.He spoke so fast that I (can/not) understand anything.

Exercise 4
22. He declared that he (not believe) it even if he saw it with his own eyes. 23. If that man smoked less he (not develop) cancer. 24. I realized that we (meet) before. 25. My legs were stiff because I (sit) still for a long time. 26. I knew that they always (study) their lessons very carefully. 27. He said members (discuss) that matter then. 28. I heard your friend (fall) on some steps. 29. I knew my friends (not receive) any letters yet.

KEY
1. Had visited, asked 2. didn t find 3. had known 4. was trying 5. had been crying 6. would go 7. didn t know 8. had attacked 9. returned 10. had been flying 11. had taken 12. were playing/would play/ were going to play 13. could 14. had gone 15. had 16. was 17. were visiting/ would visit/ were going to visit 18. had written 19. would finish/ were going to finish 20. had solved 21. couldn t 22. wouldn t believe 23. would not develop 24. had

REPORTED SPEECH
We use the indirect (reported speech) when we are telling someone what other person says or said. The tense of the reporting verb ( say, tell, ask...) often affects the tense of the reported statement:
e.g. He says: The campaign is a great success . D He says (that) the campaign is a great success. I e.g. He said: The campaign is a great success . D He said (that) the campaign was a great success. I

The change of tenses

When the reporting verb is in a past tense, the following changes may occur in the reported sentence:

Present simple Past Simple Past Simple Past Perfect Present Perfect Past Perfect Present Continuous Past Continuous Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous will would can could must had to etc.

People, places, times and things

People I you my your Place here Times now today yesterday tomorrow this afternoon last week next week a few days ago Things this project he/she me his/her mine there then, at the time that day, on Monday the day before, the previous day the next day, the following day that afternoon the week before, the previous week the week after, the following week a few days before that project

Exception!
We do not change tense if the information is still true. e.g. He said that the sky is blue. He said that the sun rises in the east. He said there is always a period of uncertainty after a merger.

Say or Tell
We say something and we tell somebody e.g. John said he was satisfied with the project. John told me he was satisfied with the project. Never use TO between tell and object

Other Reporting Verbs

Verb + -ing admit, deny, mention, propose, suggest Verb + to infinitive agree, ask, demand, decide, offer Verb + that clause admit, claim, promise, confirm e.g. He said: I didn t do that. He denied doing that.

Reporting Questions Mind the word order!

1. WH-questions:
reporting verb + WH-word + subject + main verb e.g. Where is it? He asked me where it was. When will the goods arrive? They asked me when the goods would arrive. What time does the train leave? They wanted to know when the train left.

Reporting Questions Mind the word order!

2. Yes/ No Questions reporting verb + IF/ WHETHER + subject + main verb e.g. Do you speak French?
She asked me if I spoke French. Are you going to pay in cash? He asked me whether I was going to pay in cash.

Reporting Commands and Requests

Reporting verb+ subject + to/ not to + infinitive e.g. Take us to the airport. She told the driver to take us to the airport. e.g. Please don t wait for me, I ll come along later. He asked us not to wait.

Reporting Statements:
1 'I have something to show you,' I said to her. 2 'Nothing grows in my garden. It never gets any sun,' she said. 3 'I'm going away tomorrow, mother,' he said. 4 'I've been in London for a month but so far I haven't had time to visit the Tower,' said Rupert. 5 'It isn't so foggy today as it was yesterday,' I remarked. 6 'We have a lift but very often it doesn't work,' they said. 7 'I've no idea what the time is but I'll dial 8081 and find out,' said his daughter. 8 He said, 'My wife has just been made a judge.' 9 'I'll come with you as soon as I am ready,' she replied. 10 'If you let the iron get too hot you will scorch your clothes,' I warned her.

Reporting questions
1 'Why are you looking through the keyhole?' I said. 2 'Who put salt in my coffee?' he asked. 3 'Which of you knows how to make Irish stew?' said the chief cook 4 'Why did you travel first class?' I asked him. 5 'How can I run in high-heeled shoes?' she enquired. 6 'Who owns this revolver?' said the detective. 7 'Have you done this sort of work before?' said his new employer 8 'Do you see what I see, Mary?' said the young man. 9 'Are you leaving today or tomorrow morning?' said his secretary. 10 'Will you go on strike when the others do?' the shop steward asked him.

Reporting Commands and Requests

1 'Open the safe!' the raiders ordered the bank clerk . 2 'Please do as I say,' he begged me. 3 'Don't miss your train,' she warned them. 4 'Make a list of what you want,' she told us. 5 'Look at the paper,' he said to her. 6 'Have confidence in me,' urged the doctor. 7 'Wait for me at the bridge,' said the young man. 8 'Don't go near the water, children,' she said. 9 'Search the house,' said the police sergeant. 10 'Don't make mountains out of molehills,' he said