MS: Lesson - The Sequence of Tenses

The Sequence of Tenses

The concept of a relationship to the introductory verb remains in the subjunctive mood, but Latin often uses a slightly more rigid set of rules that determine the relationship. This set of rules is called The Sequence of Tenses. Livia, in the image, is sitting in her chair. She is thinking about what she should do next. The phrase what she should do next, is a dependent clause, which in Latin, will have its tense determined by the sequence of the introductory verb.

Categories for Tenses in Latin

Before discussing the actual rules laid out by the sequence of tenses, we need to address how tenses are grouped. We have, so far, seen a certain type of grouping, called systems - the present system and the perfect system. These groupings are based on what stem the tense uses:

• Present system tenses use the present stem:
  • present, imperfect, future
• Perfect system tenses use the perfect (active forms) or participle stem (passive forms):
  • perfect, pluperfect, future perfect

When dealing with dependent clauses, we will not depend on the present and perfect system. Instead, the tense of a verb that introduces a subjunctive dependent clause can be divided into two new categories: Primary and Secondary.

• Primary tenses are those that are happening now or have yet to happen (any non-past tense):
  • present, future, future perfect.
• Secondary tenses are those that have already happened (any past tense):
  • imperfect, perfect, pluperfect.

The introductory verb establishes the sequence: its tense will determine whether the sequence is primary or secondary. The introductory verb governs the dependent clause: this is most often the verb in an independent clause but can be another dependent verb as well or even a participle or infinitive. The sequence (primary or secondary) will determine what tenses can be used for the subjunctive verb in a dependent clause.

So, the introductory verb establishes the sequence: primary or secondary. What happens to the subjunctive verb in the dependent clause? There are also two categories for the subjunctive verb: complete and incomplete.

• Complete: If the action of the dependent clause has already happened and is completed, you will use either perfect or pluperfect, depending on the sequence,
• Incomplete: if the action is expected or still happening, you will use either the present or imperfect, again depending on the sequence.

Understanding the Sequence of Tenses

The best way to understand this concept is to see it visually:

The Sequence of Tenses

Sequence	Tense of Introductory Verb	Tense of Subjunctive Dependent Verb
Primary Sequence	Present Future Future Perfect	Incomplete uses Present tense Action at the same time or after introductory verb
		Complete uses Perfect tense Action before the introductory verb
Secondary Sequence	Imperfect Perfect Pluperfect	Incomplete uses Imperfect tense Action at the same time or after introductory verb
		Complete uses Pluperfect tense Action before the introductory verb

Summary

• The sequence of tenses is established by the tense of the introductory verb.
  • Primary or Secondary
• The sequence establishes the dependent verb's possible tenses. Each sequence allows the dependent verb to be one of two tenses:
  • Primary: present or perfect
  • Secondary: imperfect or pluperfect
• Which of the two tenses for the dependent verb will be established by the type of action it relates:
  • Incomplete: present and imperfect
  • Complete: perfect and pluperfect
• For example, if the introductory verb in a Latin sentence is in the present tense, and the dependent verb is in the perfect tense, the sentence would be described as:
  • Primary Sequence, complete action.
    • Primary Sequence: introductory verb = present tense
    • Complete action: dependent verb = perfect tense

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