Mastering the rules of using tenses and understanding the sequence of tenses in English grammar is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences. The Latin verb sequor means "follow," meaning that the tense of a subordinate clause often depends on and follows the verb of the main clause.
What is the Sequence of Tenses?
The sequence of tenses dictates how verbs interact within complex and compound sentences. Understanding these patterns helps you write with precision and clarity. For a broader foundational review, you can check out this guide on Present, Past and Future Tense.
What Are the Main Rules of Using Tenses?
The primary guidelines governing how a dependent clause matches or adjusts to a principal clause include:
1. Principal clause in present or future tense
Principal clause-এর verb present বা future tense-এ থাকলে subordinate বা dependent clause-এর verb যে কোন tense-এ হতে পারে। যেমন:
- I know that he is successful.
- I know that he was successful.
- I know that he will be successful.
- I shall know that he is successful.
- I shall know that he was successful.
- I shall know that he will be successful.
2. Principal clause in past tense
Principal clause-এ verb past tense-এ থাকলে subordinate dependent clause-এর verb সাধারণত corresponding (সঙ্গতিপূর্ণ) past tense-এ থাকে। যেমন:
- I said that he was poor.
- I said that he had been poor.
- I said that he would be poor.
কিন্তু, subordinate clause universal truth, habitual fact অথবা proverb প্রকাশ করলে তা present tense-এ থাকতে পারে। যেমন:
- He said that all is well that ends well.
- They believed that man is mortal.
3. Comparison clauses
Principal clause যে tense-এই থাকুক না কেন subordinate clause তুলনা (comparison) বুঝালে subordinate clause যে কোন tense-এ (present/past/future) থাকতে পারে। যেমন:
- He helps me more than he helps you.
- He helps me more than he helped you.
- He helps me more than he will help you.
- He helped me more than he helps you.
- He helped me more than he helped you.
- He helped me more than he will help you.
- He will help me more than he helps you.
- He will help me more than he will help you.
What Are Some Other Important Rules of Tense Usage?
নিম্নে আমরা structure-সহ কিছু complex sentence উল্লেখ করছি যেগুলো থেকে principal clause ও subordinate clause-এর tense-সমূহের ব্যবহার জানা সম্ভব হবে।
Rule 1
In case / provided (that) / providing (that) / if যুক্ত subordinate clause-টি present indefinite tense-এ হবে, যখন principal clause-টি present/future indefinite tense-এ হয়।
- I want to stay at home in case/provided (that) providing (that)/if he comes.
- In case you study well, you will pass.
Rule 2
I wish / I like / I fancy / would that + subject + 'be' verb (were/could be) + ....
- I wish I were a poet.
- I wish I could be a poet.
কিন্তু, I wish / I like / I fancy / would that / o that / oh that + subject + "be" verb ছাড়া অন্য verb থাকলে past form বা could + present form + ....
- I like I sang.
- I like I could sing.
- I wish I died.
- I wish I could fly in the sky.
- Would that he were alive today.
- I fancy I turned a trifle pale.
Rule 3
It is high time / It is time + subject + verb-past form + ....
- It is high time we did something for our country.
- It is time you earned your livelihood.
Rule 4
Main clause (সাধারণত present indefinite tense / present perfect tense) + since + clause (past indefinite tense).
- It is a long time since I saw you last.
- Two years have passed since our father expired.
কিন্তু, Main clause (সাধারণত past indefinite tense) + since + clause (past perfect tense)
- It was more than two years since they had left Bangladesh.
- It was long since I had seen her last.
Rule 5
Main clause (present tense) + as if / as though + clause (past indefinite tense; এক্ষেত্রে 'be' verb সবসময় were হয়)
- He talks as if he were mad.
- He pretends as though he knew everything.
কিন্তু, Main clause (past tense) + as if / as though + clause (past perfect tense)
- He pretended as though he had known everything.
- She proceeded as if I had not spoken.
Rule 6
Main clause + lest + clause (subject + should / might + verb-এর base form + ....)
- They study hard lest they should fail.
- I told her everything lest she should misunderstand me.
Rule 7
Main clause + so that / in order that + subject + can / may (principal clause present tense হলে) অথবা, could / might (principal clause past tense হলে) + verb-এর base form + ....
- Drink clean water so that you can/may keep fit.
- We worked hard in order that we could/might succeed.
Rule 8
No sooner + had + subject + verb-এর past participle form... + than + subject + verb-এর past form....
- No sooner had the bell rung than we entered the classroom.
- No sooner had we reached the station than the train left.
- No sooner had he got the news than he bur into tears.
Hardly + had + subject + verb-এর past participle form... + when + subject + verb-এর past form....
- Hardly had we reached the station when the train left.
- Hardly had the thief seen the police when he ran away.
Scarcely + had + subject + verb-এর past participle form... + when/before + subject + verb-এর past form....
- Scarcely had they entered the stadium when/before the cricket match began.
- Scarcely had the teacher entered the classroom when the students stood up.
Rule 9
Main clause (present indefinite tense / future indefinite tense) + when / after + clause (present perfect tense).
- I shall return you the book when/after I have finished reading it.
- You can go to England when/after you have learnt English.
Rule 10
Main clause (past perfect) + before + clause (past indefinite).
- I had learnt my lessons before I went to bed.
Main clause (past indefinite) + after + clause (past perfect)
- They shone in life after they had worked hard.
Rule 11
Main clause (past indefinite - পরে সংঘটিত) + dependent clause (past perfect - পূর্বে সংঘটিত).
- He said that he had visited the zoo.
- We knew that they had already reached there.
- The ship had sailed away to the south until they arrived in cold grey seas.
Rule 12
If clause (present indefinite), + main clause (future indefinite tense).
- If it rains, I shall not go out.
- If he does not come, I'll go to his house.
Rule 13
If clause (past indefinite), + main clause (subject + would / could / might + (not) + verb-এর base form).
- If he worked hard, he would/could/might succeed.
- If I were a rich man, I would/could/might set up a school.
- Or, Were I a rich man, I would/could/might set up a school.
- If I had a lot of money, I would/could/might help the poor.
- Or, Had I a lot of money, I would/could/might help the poor.
Note: Had + subject = If + subject + had এবং were + subject = if + subject + were.
Rule 14
If clause (past perfect), + main clause {perfect conditional = subject + would / could / might (not) + have + verb-past participle form}.
- If you had studied hard, you would/could/might have passed the exam.
- Had I known it, I would/could/might have told you.
Key Takeaways
- The sequence of tenses dictates how subordinate clause verbs follow the main clause verbs.
- When a principal clause is in the present or future tense, the dependent clause can be in any tense.
- Universal truths and proverbs remain in the present tense even if the principal clause is in the past tense.
- Specific conjunctions and structures like "It is high time," "lest," and conditional "if" clauses follow strict tense agreement rules.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding of tense rules by dropping your answers in the comments below:
- Complete this sentence: "He talks as if he ________ (be) mad."
- Translate or complete: "It is high time we ________ (do) something for our country."
FAQ
What is the rule for a principal clause in the past tense?
When the principal clause verb is in the past tense, the subordinate clause verb typically shifts to a corresponding past tense, unless it expresses a universal truth or proverb.
How does "It is high time" affect the tense?
"It is high time" or "It is time" must be followed directly by a subject and a verb in its past form.
What follows the conjunction "lest"?
A clause following "lest" requires a subject followed by "should" or "might" and the base form of the verb.