Sequence of tenses

OCTOBER 22, 2010 -

The verb in the subordinate clause changes its tense in accordance with the
tense of the verb in the main clause. This principle chiefly applies to adverb clauses of
purpose and noun clauses.
Here are the basic rules
1. A past tense in the principal clause is usually followed by a past tense in the
subordinate clause.

She said that she would come.

I realized that I had made a mistake.

I worked hard that I might succeed.

I found out that he was guilty.

There are a few exceptions to this rule.

A past tense in the principal clause may be followed by a present tense in
the subordinate clause when the subordinate clause expresses a universal
truth.

The teacher said that honesty is the best policy. (NOT The teacher said that
honesty was the best policy.)

Galileo maintained that the earth moves around the sun.

When the subordinate clause is introduced by than, it may be in any tense

even if the verb in the main clause is in the past tense.

He loved me more than he loves his own children.

He loved me more than he loved his own children.

He loved me more than he will love his own children.

A present or future tense in the principal clause may be followed by any

tense in the subordinate clause.

He says that she was at the club.

He says that she is at the club.

He says that she will be at the club.

He will say that she was at the club.

He will say that she is at the club.

He will say that she will be at the club.

Notes
When the verb in the main clause is in the future tense, we often use a
present tense in the subordinate clause to refer to future time.

Adverb clauses of purpose

MARCH 5, 2011 -

Adverb clauses of purpose are introduced by the subordinating conjunctions that, so

that, in order that and lest.

We eat that we may live.

He works hard so that he will become a millionaire.

Put on your warm clothes lest you should catch a chill.

Schools were closed early in order that students might reach home before
the thunderstorm.

Notes
In an informal style, so that is more common than in order that.
These expressions are usually followed by modal auxiliary verbs such as will,
can or may.

She wants to study in England so that she can perfect her English.

We are starting now so that we will reach there before sunset.

In an informal style that can be dropped after so; this is very common in American
English.

I have come early so that I can meet you. OR I have come earlyso I can meet
you.

Lest means thatnot, and, therefore, it will be wrong to add another not in the
following clause. Moreover it should be noted that the only auxiliary verb that can be
used after lest is should.

Reserve your tickets early lest you miss the chance. OR Reserve your tickets
early lest you should miss the chance.(NOT Reserve your tickets early lest you
do not miss the chance.)

Noun clause exercise

JULY 28, 2014 -

A noun clause serves the same purpose as a noun. Noun clauses are usually
introduced by the subordinating conjunctions that, why, how, if and whether.

A noun clause can act as the subject or object of the verb in the main clause. It can also
act as the object of a preposition.
Find out the noun clauses in the following sentences.
1. I often wonder how he is getting on.
2. I want to know why she is angry with me.
3. He asked me if I knew his name.
4. She said that she would not come.
5. I feel that I will fail.
6. I thought that she would arrive.
7. That you should cheat me hurts me.
8. I dont know how I can get out of this mess.
9. I dont know what he wants.
10. I went to see what had happened.
11. Pay careful attention to what I am going to say.
12. She told me that she would be delighted to come.
Answers
1. Noun clause how he is getting on.
2. Noun clause why she is angry with me.
3. Noun clause if I knew his name.
4. Noun clause that she would not come.

5. Noun clause that I will fail.

6. Noun clause that she would arrive.
7. Noun clause That you should cheat me
8. Noun clause how I can get out of this mess.
9. Noun clause what he wants.
10. Noun clause what had happened.
11. Noun clause what I am going to say.
12. Noun clause that she would be delighted to come.

I will call you when he comes. (NOT I will call you when he will come.)

Sequence of Tenses

The tense of a verb in the subordinate clause changes in accordance with the tense of the verb in the main

clause.
The basic rules are as follows:

Rule 1

If the verb in the principal clause is in the present or the future tense, the verb in the subordinate clause

may be in any tense, depending upon the sense to be expressed.

He says that he is fine.
He says that he was fine.
He says that he will be fine.
He will say that he is fine.
He will say that he was fine.

He will say that he will be fine.

Rule 2

If the tense in the principal clause is in the past tense, the tense in the subordinate clause will be in the

corresponding past tense.

He said that he would come.
He told me that he had been ill.
I knew that he would not pass.

We noticed that the fan had stopped.

There are, nevertheless, a few exceptions to this rule.

A past tense in the main clause may be followed by a present tense in the subordinate clause when the

subordinate clause expresses some universal truth.

Copernicus proved that the earth moves round the sun.
The teacher told us that honesty is the best policy.

He told me that the Hindus burn their dead.

A subordinate clause expressing place, reason or comparison may be in any tense, according to the sense

to be expressed.
He didnt get the job because his English isnt good.

A fishing village once existed where now lies the city of Mumbai.
If the subordinate clause is an adjective clause, it may be in any tense as is required by the sense.

Yesterday I met a man who sells balloons.

Yesterday I met a man who sold me a balloon.

Rule 3

Note that when the subordinate clause is introduced by the conjunction of purpose that, the following

rules are observed.

We use may in the subordinate clause when the main clause is in the present tense. We use might in the

subordinate clause when the main clause is in the past tense.

I study that I may pass.
I will study that I may pass.
I studied that I might pass.
We eat that we may live.

He ate that he might not die.

Rule 4

If the principal clause is in the future tense, we do not use future tense in subordinating clauses beginning

with when, until, before, after etc.

I will call you when dinner is ready. (NOT I will call you when dinner will be ready.)

I shall wait until you return. (NOT I shall wait until you will return.)
Rule 5

Expressions such as as if, if only, it is time and wish that are usually followed by past tenses.

I wish I was a bit taller.

It is time we started working.
He talks as if he knew everything.

Read more at http://www.englishpractice.com/improve/sequence-tenses/#Yc0YliUPhRU14SdZ.99

Overview | Independent Clauses | Dependent Clauses | Relative Clauses

What is a clause?
A clause is a part of a sentence. There are two main types: independent (main clauses), dependent
(subordinate clauses).

Independent Clauses
An independent clause is a complete sentence; it contains a subject and verb and expresses a
complete thought in both context and meaning.
For example: The door opened.
Independent clauses can be joined by a coordinating conjunction to form complex or compound
sentences.
Co-ordinating Conjunctions

and

or

but

nor

for

so

yet

For example: Take two independent clauses and join them together with the conjunction and: " The
door opened." "The man walked in." = The door opened and the man walked in.

Dependent Clauses
A dependent (subordinate) clause is part of a sentence; it contains a subject and verb but does not
express a complete thought. They can make sense on their own, but, they are dependent on the rest
of the sentence for context and meaning. They are usually joined to an independent clause to form a
complex sentence.

Dependent clauses often begin with a a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun (see below)
that makes the clause unable to stand alone.
Subordinating Conjunctions
after

although

as

because

before

even if

even though

if

in order that

once

provided that

rather than

since

so that

than

that

until

when

whereas

wherever

though

unless

whenever

where

whether

while

why

Relative Pronouns

that

who
whose

which

whoever

whosever

For example:
The door opened because the man pushed it.
Dependent clauses can be nominal, adverbial or adjectival.

whichever

whom
whomever

A nominal clause (noun clause) functions like a noun or noun phrase. It is a group of words
containing a subject and a finite verb of its own and contains one of the following: that | if | whether
For example:

I wondered whether the homework was necessary.

Noun clauses answer questions like "who(m)?" or "what?"

An adverbial clause (adverb clause) is a word or expression in the sentence that functions as an
adverb; that is, it tells you something about how the action in the verb was done. An adverbial clause
is separated from the other clauses by any of the following subordinating
conjunctions: after | although | as | because | before | if | since | that | though | till | unless | unti
l | when | where | while
For example:

They will visit you before they go to the airport.

Adverbial clauses can also be placed before the main clause without changing the meaning.
For example:

Before they go to the airport, they will visit you.

!Note - When an adverb clause introduces the sentence (as this one does), it is set off with a
comma.
Adverb clauses answer questions like "when?", "where?", "why?"
An adjectival clause (adjective clause or relative clause) does the work of an adjective and describes
a noun, it's usually introduced by a relative pronoun: who | whom | whose | that | which
For example:

I went to the show that was very popular.

This kind of clause is used to provide extra information about the noun it follows. This can be to
define something (a defining clause), or provide unnecessary, but interesting, added information (a
non-defining clause).
For example:

The car that is parked in front of the gates will be towed away. (Defining relative clause.)

Information contained in the defining relative clause is absolutely essential in order for us to be able
to identify the car in question.

My dog, who is grey and white, chased the postman. ( Non-defining relative clause)

A non-defining relative clause is separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. If you take
away the non-defining clause the basic meaning of the sentence remains intact.
For example:

My dog chased the postman.

Adjective clauses answer questions like "which?" or "what kind of?"

Summary
An adjective clause functions as an adjective (modifies a noun or pronoun); an adverb clause
functions as an adverb (describes a verb, adjective or other adverb); a noun clause is used as a
noun (subject of a verb, direct object, indirect object, predicate nominative or object of the
preposition).
!Note - The difference between a clause and a phrase is that a phrase does not contain a finite verb.

Relative Clauses
A relative clause follows the noun it modifies. It is generally indicated by a relative pronoun at the
start of the clause, although sometimes you can tell simply by word order. The choice of relative
pronoun, or choice to omit one, can be affected by the following:-

Human or Non-human?
We make a distinction between an antecedent that is a human who(m) and
an antecedent which is a non-human which.
Who(m) is used when the antecedent is a person.
That is used to refer to either a person or thing.
Which is used to refer to anything exept a person.

I met a man and a woman yesterday. The woman, who had long blonde hair, was very pretty.

The man she was with, was the man that / who won the race.

The race was the one that I lost.

The man, to whom the winnings were given, was with the woman who was very pretty.

!Note - Whom is not used much in spoken English.

Restrictive or Non-restrictive?
Restrictive relative clauses are sometimes called defining relative clauses, or identifying relative
clauses. Similarly, non-restrictive relative clauses are called non-defining or non-identifying relative
clauses.
In English a non-restrictive relative clause is preceded by a pause in speech or a comma in writing,
unlike a restrictive clause.
For example:The builder, who erects very fine houses, will make a large profit.
This example, with commas, contains a non-restrictive relative clause. It refers to a specific
builder, and assumes we know which builder is intended. It tells us firstly about his houses,
then about his profits.
The builder who erects very fine houses will make a large profit.
This second example uses a restrictive relative clause. Without the commas, the sentence states
that any builder who builds such houses will make a profit.

Restrictive

Non-restrictive

Human

Nonhuman

Human

Nonhuman

Subject

who, that

which, that

who

Object

who, whom, that,

which, that, who, whom

which

After
preposition

whom

which

whom

which

whose, of whom

whose, of
which

whose, of
whom

whose, of
which

Possessive

- See more at: http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/clausetext.html#sthash.rIoLd3Vf.dpuf

which