Sequence of Tense.

ü Sequence of Tense.

v A past tense in the principle  classic followed by a tense in the subordinate cluse{p-past,s-past}

            **She replied that she  felt better.

            **She saw that the clock had stopped.     

            **She worked hard so that she might succed in life.

v A past tense in the principle cluse may be followed by a present tense in the subordinate cluse when the subordinate cluse express a universal truth{p-past,s-present}

             **He said that honesty is the best policy.

v When the subordinate cluse is introduced by than,Even,if there is a past tense of principle cluse it may be followed by any tense required by the sense cluse {p-past,s-any}

**He liked you more than he likes me.

v A present or future tense in the principle cluse may be followed by any tense subordinate cluse required by the sense.

**He thinks that she is there

              **He thinks that she was there.

**He thinks that she will be there.

**He will think that I did the work.

v As soon as,If [in the starting of]a sentence there is as soon as and it express the meaning of past action then the both parts of the sentence will in past indefinite.{p-past,s-past}

**As soon as he reached Rangpur,he phoned(phone)his friend.

**I opened(open)the door as soon as I heard the bell

v If through as soon as the sentence indicate any Future action then the cluse of the as soon as part will be present indefinite or present perfect  and the cluse of the other part will be future indefinite.

**As soon as he returns (return),I will back

**I will go home as soon as I have finished (finish) the work.

v Since,If there is since in the middle of the sentence and it’s first part is in present indefinite or present perfect then it’s other part will be in past indefinite.

**It is many years since in saw (see)her

**Many years have passed since I (visited)visit London.

Again  If the first of the since is in past indefinite tense then the other part will be past perfect tense.

**Many years  passed since I had visited (visit)London

**It was long since I had seen (see)her last.

v Unless,Untill ,If two cluses are joined together by Unless,Untill,If, then if on part is in future indefinite then the other part will be present indefinite.

**If he comes (come)I shall go.

**I shall wait (wait)for him until he comes

v No sooner had……………….than

Scarcely had………………….when

Hardly had…………………….when

In this kinds of sentences the part before When,Than,will be past perfect tense and then part after When and Than will be past indefinite.

**No sooner had I gone(go)out than he came(come).

**Scarcely had we reached the college when the exam  had we reached (reach)the  station when the train left (leave).

**Hardly had we reached the college when the exam began (begin).

v As…………if

              As………..though

         If the first part in present indefinite the second part will be past indefinite and If the first    

Part past indefinite .Second  part will be past perfect

             **He tells the matter as if he knew(know)

            **He described as if he had seen (see) it.