17. Speak on different ways of expressing future actions.

Future actions are expressed by Future Simple, Future Cont-s, Future Perfect, Future Perfect Cont-s.

17. Speak on “to be going to + infinitive” construction and compare it with the Future Simple Tense.

The construction ‘to be going to do smth’ is often used for pre-arranged, planned or intended future actions.

17. Speak on the clauses of time and condition referring to the future.

In complex sentences with the subordinate clauses of time and condition the future tenses are used only in the main clause. In the subordinate clause actions referring to the future are expressed by the Present Simple or the Present Perfect tenses.

Clauses of time are introduced by the conjunctions when, while, as soon as, after, before, until, till.

I’ll pay you back when I next see you.

Will you feed the cats while I’m away?

We’ll support them till they have found work.

Clauses of condition are introduced by the conjunctions if, in case, unless, provided, on condition that, as long as, so long as.

If you come tonight, I’m sure you’ll have much fun.

I’ll take the job unless the pay is too low.

You can use my car on condition that you drive it carefully.

Note: Remember that in object clauses after the conjunctions if/whether or when one of the Future Tenses is used for expressing a future activity.

I wonder when I will get my typewriter back.

I’m not sure whether he will be able to continue this job.

17. Define the rules of the Sequence of Tenses.

In English the tense of the verb in a subordinate clause depends on that of the verb in the principal clause. This adjustment of tense-forms is called The Sequence of Tenses.

The rules:

1. A present or future tense in the principal clause may be followed in the subordinate by any tense that is required by the sense.

They have informed us that hospitals and rescue services coped extremely well.

2. A past tense in the principal clause must be followed by a past tense in the subordinate clause.

1. if the action of the subordinate clause is simultaneous with the action of the subordinate clause the Past Simple or the Past Cont-s is used in the subordinate clause:

I didn’t know you two were related to each other.

For a moment she didn’t know where she was.

2. If the action of the subordinate clause is prior to the action of the principal clause or lasted a certain time before the action of the principal clause, the Past Perfect or Past Perfect Cont-s is used in the subordinate clause:

I knew she had not played the piano for a long time.

We were aware that they had been building a garage since last summer.

3. If the action of the subordinate clause refers to a future moment (a posterior action), a Future tense-form is replaced by the so-called Future-in-the-Past. (will = > would)

Susan’s parents were happy that their daughter would marry into a good family.

I knew they would be reading for the seminar when I came.

Present Simple -> Past Simple

Present Cont-s -> Past Cont-s

Present Perfect -> Past Perfect

Present Perfect Cont-s -> Past Perfect Cont-s

Past Simple -> Past Perfect

Past Cont-s -> Past Perfect Cont-s

Past Perfect -> Past Perfect

Past Perfect Cont-s -> Past Perfect Cont-s

Future Simple -> Future Simple-in-the-Past

Future Cont-s -> Future Cont-s-in-the-Past

Future Perfect -> Future Perfect-in-the-past

Future Perfect Cont-s -> Future Perfect Cont-s-in-the-past

Adverbials and pronouns:

Today, tonight -> that day, that night

Here -> there

Now -> then/at that time/immediately

This, these -> that, those

Tonight, this evening -> that night, that evening

Yesterday -> the day before/previously

The day before yesterday -> 2 days before previously

Ago -> before

2 years ago -> 2 years before

Last night, week, month, etc. -> the …, …, etc., before/ the previous night, week

Tomorrow -> the following day/ the next day/ the day after

The day after tomorrow -> in two days’ time

Next week/ year, etc. -> the following/ the next week/ year, etc.

17. Notes:

1. If there are several subordinate clauses in a sentence the rule of the Sequence of Tenses is observed in all of them.

But when the reported sentence contains a time clause, the tenses of the time clause do not change.

I’m sure she has been writing since she came home. -> I was sure she had been writing since she came home.

2. The Sequence of Tense may not be observed:

• If the object clause expresses general truth.

• If the action in the object clause refers to what is (or was) believed to be a regular occurrence or existing fact.

• When the point of reference for the past tense in the principal clause is the moment of speech (absolute time).

• If the statement is still up to date when we report it.

• In political language.

Note, however, that we usually change the tense if the action in the principal clause is out of date or may be untrue.

The Prime Minister claimed that the government had made the right decision.

3. When the action in the subordinate clause precedes the action in the principal clause but refers to a definite past moment or there is a succession of past events, the Past Simple is used.

4. Model verbs in subordinate object clauses usually remain unchanged, but there can also be a tense change to some of them:

Must -> must (or had to)

Have to -> had to

Needn’t -> needn’t/ didn’t/t need/ didn’t have to

Can -> could/ would be able to (future reference)

May -> might

Shall -> should (asking for advice)

Will -> would

Would, could, might, should, ought -> do not change

17. Indirect speech is usually presents a complex sentence with a subordinate object clause in which the reporting phrase forms the principal clause, while the quoted speech forms the subordinate clause.

Peculiarities of sentence structure in indirect speech are most conveniently revealed by considering indirect (reported) statements, questions, commands and exclamations separately.

Indirect statements are typically introduced by reporting verbs: add, admit (допускать, соглашаться), advise, agree, announce (объявлять, заявлять), argue (спорить), assure, beg, boast (хвастать), claim, confirm (подтверждать), deny, doubt (сомневаться), explain, feel, insist, mention (упоминать), predict, remark, remind, suppose, tell, say, answer, complain, hope.

When used in indirect or direct speech the verb say is followed by the preposition to when the person being spoken to is mentioned:

The boss said to his employees that they cold leave already.

Unlike say, the verb tell is not used as a reporting verb in direct speech.