The Sequence of Tenses (continuation)

Que no se entere nadie

(Continuación y fin)

— Es que no podemos salir...

La comitiva se puso en marcha hacia el siete. Todos los vecinos del nueve despidieron a Mariano y a Asunción amablemente y les desearon la felicidad más completa ...

Vocablos

Notes

Usage of the expression:

The construction es que it’s just that in an affirmative sentence (see lesson 46) requires the indicative mood, e.g.:

The negative form of the expression no es que it’s not that... requires the conjunctive mood, e.g.:

Learn the expressions:

Grammar

The Sequence of Tenses (continuation)

From the previous lessons you have learned all the tenses of the indicative, conjunctive and conditional moods. Now we can summarize the sequence of these tenses in complex sentences.

a. Indicative mood

If the predicate of the main clause is expressed with: the present tense (simple or perfect), the simple future tense, the simple past of the conditional mood or the imperative mood, then any tense of the indicative or conditional mood, except pretérito anterior, can be used in the subordinate clause, for example:

Consequently, any tense expressed in the subordinate clause (on the right) can be used with every tense expressed in the main clause (on the left), for example:

If the main clause is expressed with: the imperfect or simple past tense, the past perfect, the simple past of the conditional mood, then the imperfect past tense, the past perfect tense or the simple and compound conditional tenses are used in the subordinate clause, for example:

In this case, the imperfect tense of the subordinate clause expresses an action that is simultaneous with the action of the main clause, the past perfect tense expresses an action that precedes the action of the predicate of the main clause, and the conditional clause stands for the future tense with respect to the action in the past of the main clause, for example:

b. Conjunctive mood

If the verb-predicate of the main clause requires the conjunctive mood and is in: the present tense (simple or perfect) or the simple future tense of the indicative mood, then presente de subjuntivo is used in the subordinate clause, for example:

If the verb-predicate of the main clause, which requires subjuntivo) is expressed with the past tense (simple or imperfect), the past perfect tense, the simple or the compound tense of the conditional mood, then the verb of the subordinate clause should be in imperfecto de subjuntivo, for example:

In sentences that express doubt, assumption and require the conjunctive mood, the verbs are used in the same tense that would have been used in sentences of the indicative mood, for example:

Exercises

I. Complete the sentences given below using the verb escribir in the correct form of the past tense:

Juan dice que escribirá una carta a Miguel.

II. Change the sentences given below, starting them with the words: no creo:

III. Translate into English:

Mariano pensó que podría abrir el portal con su llave, pero no podía. La dama que abordó a Mariano y Asunción había pensado que vivían en esta casa. El sereno ha ido a la taberna y ha cerrado la puerta. — Es posible que haya ido a la taberna porque no ha oído las voces. — ¿Cree Vd. que no haya oído las voces? Él oyó las voces, pero no pensó que llegasen de esta casa.

IV. Translate into Spanish:

Carmen always gets up early — Juana says. — I don’t believe that Carmen gets up early, she likes to sleep. — Today she (has) got up at seven o’clock. — I don’t think she got up at seven o’clock today — Juan says. — Don’t you believe me? — I believe you, but I was very surprised that Carmen got up so early.