Sequence of Tenses

The Sequence of Tenses is the principle in accordance with which the tense of the verb in the subordinate clause follows the tense of the verb in the principal.

The main rules are :

Rule 1:  If the verb in the Principal clause be present or future, the verb in the Dependent clause may be in any tense ; as,

He will say  or,  He says

that he does it. that he did it. that he will do it.

Rule 2. But if the verb in the Principal clause be in the past tense, the verb in the Dependent clause should be in the corresponding past tense ; as,

He said

that he did it. that he had done it. that he would do it.

But when the Dependent clause expresses universal truth or a habitual fact, the verb is not changed :

He said that

honesty is the best policy. man is mortal. he takes bath in the Ganges every day.

Rule 3. When the Dependent clause denotes comparison, or does the work of an adjective, any tense in the Principal clause may be followed by any tense in the Dependent :

He loves you or,  He loved you or,  He will love you

more than he

loves me.  loved me.  will love me.

I see the man  or,  I saw the man  or,  I shall see the man

who

does the work.  did the work.   will do the work.

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