English Grammar - Sequence of Verb Tenses

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Although the various shades of time and sequence are usually conveyed adequately in

informal speech and writing, especially by native speakers and writers, they can create havoc in

academic writing and they sometimes are troublesome among students for whom English is a

second language. This difficulty is especially evident in complex sentences when there is a

difference between the time expressed in an independent clause and the time expressed in a

dependent clause. Another difficulty arises with the use of infinitives andparticiples, modals which also convey a sense of time. We hope the tables below

will provide the order necessary to help writers sort out tense sequences.

As long as the main clause's verb is in neither the past nor the past perfect

tense, the verb of the subordinate clause can be in any tense that conveys meaning accurately.

When the main clause verb is in the past or past perfect, however, the verb in the subordinate

clause must be in the past or past perfect. The exception to this rule is when the subordinate

clause expresses what is commonly known as ageneral truth:

In the 1950s, English teachers still believed that a background in Latin is essentialfor an understanding of English.

Columbus somehow knew that the world is round.

Slaveowners widely understood that literacy among oppressed people is a

dangerous thing.

The tables below demonstrate the correct relationship of tenses between clauses where time

is of the essence (i.e., within sentences used to convey ideas about actions or conditions that take

place over time).

Click HERE for a table describing the various tenses of the active voice.

Click HERE for a table describing tense sequences of infinitives and participles.

Tense in

Independent

Clause

Purpose of Dependent

Clause/

Tense in Dependent Clause

Example(s)

Simple

Present

To show same-time action, use thepresent tense

I am eager to go to the concertbecause I love the Wallflowers.

To show earlier action, use past

tenseI know that I made the right choice.

To show a period of time

extending from some point in thepast to the present, use the present

perfect tense.

They believe that they have electedthe

right candidate.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/tenses.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sequence.htm#modal_sequencehttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sequence.htm#modal_sequencehttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/tenses.htm


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To show action to come, use the

future tense.

The Presidentsays that he will vetothe

bill.

Simple

Past

To show another completed past

action, use the past tense.

I wantedto go home because

Imissedmy parents.

To show an earlier action, use the

past perfect tense.

She knew she had made the right

choice.

To state a general truth, use the

present tense.

The Deists believedthat the

universeis like a giant clock.

Present

Perfector

Past

Perfect

For any purpose, use the past tense.

She has grown a foot since

sheturnednine.The crowd had turnednasty before

the sheriffreturned.

Future

To show action happening at the

same time, use the present tense.

I will be so happy if theyfix my car

today.

To show an earlier action, use the

past tense.

You willsurelypass this exam if

youstudiedhard.

To show future action earlier

thanthe action of the independent

clause, use the present perfecttense.

The college willprobably close its

doors next summer if

enrollmentshave not increased.

Future

PerfectFor any purpose, use the presenttense or present perfect tense.

Most students will have taken sixty

credits by the time theygraduate.Most students will have taken sixty

credits by the time they have

graduated.

Authority for this section: Quick Access: Reference for Writers by Lynn Quitman Troyka. Simon & Schuster: NewYork. 1995. Used with permission. Examples and format our own.

Note:Unless logic dictates otherwise, when discussing a work of literature, use the present tense: "Robert


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Frost describes the action of snow on the birch trees." "This line suggests the burden of the ice." "The use of thepresent tense in Carver's stories creates a sense of immediacy."

Sequence of TensesWith Infinitives and Participles

Like verbs, infinitives and participles are capable of conveying the idea of action in time;

therefore, it is important that we observe the appropriate tense sequence when using these

modals.

INFINITIVES

Tense of

InfinitiveRole of Infinitive Example(s)

Present

Infinitive

(to see)

To show same-time action or

action later than the verb

Coach Espinoza is eagerto try outher new drills. [The eagerness is now;

the trying out will happen later.]

She would have liked to see moreveterans returning. [The present

infinitive to see is in the same time as

the past would have liked.]

Perfect

Infinitive

(to have

seen)

To show action earlier than theverb

The fans would like to have seensome

improvement this year. ["Would like"

describes a present condition; "tohave seen" describes something prior

to that time.]

They considerthe team to have been

coachedvery well. [The perfectinfinitive to have been

coachedindicates a time prior to the

verb consider.]

PARTICIPLES

Tense of

ParticipleRole of Participle Example(s)

Present

Participle

To show action occurring at thesame time as that of the verb

Workingon the fundamentals, theteam slowly began to improve. [The

action expressed by beganhappened


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(seeing)in the past, at the same time

the workinghappened.]

Past

Participleor

Present

Perfect

Participle

To show action occurring earlier

than that of the verb

Preparedby last year's experience,

the coach knows not to expect toomuch. [The action expressed

byknows is in thepresent;preparedexpresses a time

prior to that time.]

Having experimentedwith several

game plans, the coaching

staffdeviseda master strategy. [The

present perfect participle havingexperimentedindicates a time prior to

the past tense verb, devised.]

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English Grammar - Sequence of Verb Tenses