Sequence of tenses

Consecutio temporum ( " timing " ) is a term from the grammar of the Latin language, which is sometimes also used in the German grammar. Being the system that controls the use of times in the assembled blocks. Between law and subordinate clause, there are three possible relations of time:

  • The subordinate statement is the same for the parent statement. (Example: While I sleep, I dream ).
  • The subordinate statement is premature to the parent statement. (Example: After I had slept, I woke up ).
  • The subordinate statement is nachzeitig to the parent statement. (Example: Before I wake up, I sleep ).
  • 2.1 General
  • 2.2 anteriority, simultaneity, posteriority
  • 2.3 The conjunctions if and when

The consecutio temporum in Latin

Constituent clauses in the indicative

Is in the indicative subordinate clauses to denote the simultaneity of the same tense as in the main clause (and thus, unlike the Germans, for example, the future tense in relation to a future).

To denote the prematurity is in the present tense in the main clause, the Perfect, in the Futur Futur II, in a past tense, the past perfect tense.

To denote the posteriority other rules that do not correspond to the consecutio temporum apply. As one example, in antequam / priusquam ( before ):

  • Based on a present tense: present perfect or
  • Based on a Perfect: Perfect
  • Related to a future tense: present or future tense II

Even with simultaneity and anteriority there are certain conjunctions exceptions to the time sequence: So is POSTQUAM ( after ) always with the Perfect, dum ( while ) always with the present tense ( absolute tense ).

Constituent clauses in the subjunctive

To describe the consecutio temporum subjunctive in subordinate clauses to Partition the parent statements in Haupttempora (present and future) and Nebentempora (all past times ). The following applies:

  • Simultaneity to a main tense is expressed by the subjunctive present tense, subjunctive prematurity by Perfect posteriority by participle Present perfect and present subjunctive of esse ( coniugatio periphrastica ) with dependent interrogative sentences, otherwise mostly by present subjunctive.
  • Simultaneity to one side tense is expressed by the subjunctive imperfect, pluperfect subjunctive by prematurity, posteriority by participle Present perfect and imperfect subjunctive of esse or by imperfect subjunctive.

Also in subjunctive subordinate clauses, there are exceptions to the consecutio temporum; particularly in consecutive clauses is absolute tense generally.

The consecutio temporum in German

General

In German there is a controlled time sequence, in Temporalsätzen. Only certain tenses can be combined. Does the description in the main clause to the past, only the past tense, past perfect, Perfect and Future II may then be used, for example:

  • The barrel floating in the ocean, since [ the ] the ship had gone down.

In contrast, the following combination is not possible:

  • The barrel floating in the ocean, since [ the ] goes down the ship.

Even with descriptions that refer to the present, only certain combinations of tenses are possible, namely with the present tense, future tense, Perfect and Future Perfect:

  • You exercise as often as they can.
  • (not possible :) You play sports, whenever it was possible for them.

That the latter two tenses are also found in this group can be explained by their diverse uses, because they can represent both the past and things present or things to come. However, provisions must be paid to the time reference:

  • He will have probably called after they had left the house.

However, that combination is not available:

  • It is they called morning after they had left the house.

Anteriority, simultaneity, posteriority

The combinations of tenses is also the proportion of time that is expressed between the main and subordinate clause dependent. If the events occur simultaneously ( simultaneity ), so both have member records to the same tense, which often occurs during a conjunction:

  • We went home while it was raining.

Sets the action in the subordinate clause after the main clause a ( posteriority ), as are also often the same tenses in the subsets. In addition, the present tense or past tense can be used in a subordinate clause when the main clause Perfect or Past Perfect are needed. Therefore, the following combinations are therefore possible:

  • They arrived at home before the rain started.
  • They had arrived at home before the rain started.

Especially in the case of prematurity, that is, if the action in the subordinate clause begins before the main clause, is the strict time sequence, particularly in the use of after. If the main clause present tense or future tense as absolute tenses ( ie with present- or future reference ) are, as it is in the subordinate clause as a relative Perfect Tense:

  • When I arrived home, I salute him from you / I will salute him from you.

Perfect addition can take place and the future II are used when the main clause is future tense:

  • If I 'm going to be arrived at home, I 'll call you.

If the main clause past tense or perfect or past perfect tense, the pluperfect is in a subordinate clause. In contrast to posteriority this time ratio can also be expressed in the relative clause:

  • The conductor controlled my ticket, which I had bought at the vending machine.

The conjunctions if and when

Unlike other conjunctions that describe either pre-, co-or posteriority can if both a single and a repeated events describe, so the timing is affected. In the latter case if the set can be combined with different tenses, for example:

  • [Always ] when it snows, we build a snowman.
  • [Always ] when it was snowing, we built a snowman.

However, if only a single event meant so no tenses may be used, relating to the past:

  • If it snows tomorrow, we build a snowman.
  • (not possible :) If it snowed yesterday, we built a snowman.

These relationships are expressed as:

  • When it snowed yesterday, we built a snowman.
  • Syntax
  • Latin grammar
Independent clause
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