LH1: Lesson - The Sequence of Tenses - Examples and Review
Sequence of Tenses - Examples and Review
Download the Sequence of Tenses Handout Links to an external site. - complete this document to practice what you've learned about the sequence of tenses. Consider the lesson on sequence of tenses and use the chart below to help in filling out this handout.
These forms will be addressed fully in Latin, but for now, let's explore a few examples in English to establish what exactly is meant by complete and incomplete. The example sentences in the table below are set up with the following: the Introductory Clause is highlighted in Italics, while the Dependent Clause is highlighted in bold face.
|
Example Sentence |
What Sequence? |
Complete or Incomplete? |
|---|---|---|
|
Lucretia orders Gnaeus to find information. |
Primary orders is the introductory verb and is present |
Incomplete Gnaeus has not found the information yet. find would be in the present tense in Latin to complete the sequence. |
|
Lucretia will wonder where Gnaeus has been. |
Primary will wonder is the introductory verb and is future |
Complete Gnaeus has already been there, so has been would be in the perfect tense in Latin to complete the sequence. |
|
Lucretia asked that Titus not be present. |
Secondary asked is the introductory verb and is past |
Incomplete Whether Titus is there or not has not happened yet. Lucretia has requested that something not happen, but that action remains incomplete. The verb phrase be present would be in the imperfect tense in Latin to complete the sequence. |
|
Lucretia was wondering who had married Marcus. |
Secondary was wondering is the introductory verb and is past |
Complete Marcus has already been married, so the verb phrase had married would be in the pluperfect tense in Latin to complete the sequence. |
As you learn the dependent uses of the subjunctive mood, please keep the sequence of tenses in mind. It can greatly increase your ability to quickly recognize what type of dependent clause is being used and how to translate that clause effectively.
Practice Activity
Along with being a way to learn how the sequence of tenses functions, the following activity will serve as a review for recognizing the tense of verbs in the subjunctive mood.
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