Page 49 - English Grammar - 8

1 177 Sequence of Tensesenses
Sequence of T

Practise What You Know!actise What You Know!
Pr

Complete each sentence using an appropriate form of the verb.

1. Suddenly she gave a loud scream and ____________ to the ground.
fell has fallen had fallen
2. After questioning, he ____________to go home.
allowed had allowed was allowed

3. The government has announced that taxes ____________.
will raise will be raised would be raised
4. She____________ saying that she disagreed.
heard was heard had heard

Let’s Learn Sequence of Tenses

The sequence of tenses has two main rules that need to be followed.

Rule 1

If the verb in the principal clause is in the past tense, the subordinate clause should have a

verb in the past tense. For example:
He came and his brother went away.
O
They watched the film and I completed my homework.
O
Aunj went in a car, but he returned on a cycle.
O
Exception to Rule 1

If the verb in the principal clause is in the past tense, the subordinate clause should have a
verb in the present tense if it expresses a universal truth. For example:

Our teacher taught us that the sun rises in the east.
O
It was proved long ago that the earth revolves around the sun.
O
Even as a child, we knew that Japan is known as the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’.
O

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