Sequence of tenses

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Taka

#216382 Sun, 16 Apr 06 11:37 AM

(1) I recieved an e-mail from my father which said he was coming to Tokyo tomorrow.
(2) I received an e-mail from my father which says he is coming to Tokyo tomorrow.
(3) I've just received an e-mail from my father which says he is coming to Tokyo tomorrow.
(4) I've just received an e-mail from my father which said he was coming to Tokyo tomorrow.

Are (2) and (4) wrong? Or are they also acceptable?

Taka

Joined on Tue, Sep 7 2004

Japan

Senior Member (2,351)

Mister Micawber

#216418 Sun, 16 Apr 06 01:28 PM

I'm sure that you have read the arguments as thoroughly as I, Taka, but as far as I'm concerned, #2 is fine if the email still obviously exists. #4 is fine by the normal rule of sequencing-- #3 (immediate reporting) is an option, not a rule.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (22,690)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Taka

#216459 Sun, 16 Apr 06 03:41 PM

Mister Micawber wrote:

#4 is fine by the normal rule of sequencing

Oh, I thought #3 was normal by the rule of sequencing: I thought when the main clause was present perfect, normally the tense of the subordinate clause was present...

Taka

Tenses, Clauses, Present Perfect

Ruslana

#216494 Sun, 16 Apr 06 05:26 PM

Konnichiwa, Taka!

Taka wrote:
Oh, I thought #3 was normal by the rule of sequencing: I thought when the main clause was present perfect, normally the tense of the subordinate clause was present...

This is not necessarily so. The rule says that, if a main clause verb is in a present tense, you may use any needed tense in a subordinate clause.

For instance:

He knows that you are busy today.
He knows that you were busy last week.
He knows that you will be busy tomorrow.

He has said that he receives letters from her.
He has said that he has received a letter.
He has said that he received a letter yesterday.
He has said that he will receive a letter tomorrow.

Ruslana

Joined on Sat, Dec 17 2005

Russia

Senior Member (3,197)

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace", - Jimi Hendrix

Verbs, Tenses, Clauses, Present Tenses, Present Perfect

Rotter

#216513 Sun, 16 Apr 06 06:35 PM

Ruslana

He said "I love Ruslana".

He said he loved Ruslana. [I wouldn't write this.]

He said he loves Ruslana. [ This is fine.]

He said "I will go to Russian next week".

He said he will go to Russia next week. [ I wouldn't wite this.]

He said he would go to Russian next week. [This is fine.]

Rotter

Joined on Sun, Jul 24 2005

Japan

Regular Member (655)

Я люблю российских девочек.

Ruslana

#216534 Sun, 16 Apr 06 07:46 PM

Thanks, Rotter. But from what I have learnt while in this forum, all the sentences you wrote are correct. Smile [:)]

Ruslana

Mister Micawber

#216733 Mon, 17 Apr 06 07:50 AM

Oh, I thought #3 was normal by the rule of sequencing: I thought when the main clause was present perfect, normally the tense of the subordinate clause was present.

We may both be a little confused, Taka. In (4) I've just received an e-mail from my father which said he was coming to Tokyo tomorrow, the main (reporting) verb is said, not have received. I at least was thinking of reported speech in my initial post. Shall we start again?