hetzer
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2013
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- Japanese
- Home Country
- Japan
- Current Location
- Japan
My students asked me about the tense in a subordinate clause when the tense in a main clause is past perfect.
1. He thinks that he will make it.
2. He thought that he would make it.
Both 1 and 2 are OK, right? So what happens if the main clause in these sentences is past perfect?
3. He had thought that he would have made it.
4. He had thought that he made it.
To me, 3 sounds like a subjunctive mood, and 4 seems incorrect.
I understand the context matters, but if you had no choice but to use past perfect in a main clause, what kind of tense would you choose to use in a subordinate clause?
1. He thinks that he will make it.
2. He thought that he would make it.
Both 1 and 2 are OK, right? So what happens if the main clause in these sentences is past perfect?
3. He had thought that he would have made it.
4. He had thought that he made it.
To me, 3 sounds like a subjunctive mood, and 4 seems incorrect.
I understand the context matters, but if you had no choice but to use past perfect in a main clause, what kind of tense would you choose to use in a subordinate clause?
