Sequence of tenses - A Practical Guide - Modern Italian Grammar

Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide, Third Edition (2013)

Appendix V. Sequence of tenses

This is a simplified schematic outline of the ‘sequence of tenses’ between a main and a dependent clause. Here we indicate only the most common combinations of main verbs and dependent verbs.

The first table below shows combinations where the dependent verb is mainly in the indicative mood, while the second table shows combinations where the dependent verb is mainly in the subjunctive mood.

In each of the two tables, the combinations are determined by the tense of the verb in the main clause: present tense, past tense, future tense.

Finally for each of these main verb tenses, three time contexts are considered: same time context, earlier time context, later time context.

The sequence of tenses is explained in greater depth, along with examples, in 30.5.

Dependent verbs in the indicative

After a main verb such as dire, the dependent clause is normally in the indicative mood. If, however, there is any doubt or uncertainty, or a condition is implied, the conditional mood can be used in its place.

Time context

Main verb in present tense

Verb in dependent clause

Same (an event or act happening at the time of speaking or writing)

Marco dice

Present indicative

che tu sei brava.

Marco dice

Present conditional

che tu verresti con noi.

Earlier (an event or act happening in the past in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Marco dice

Perfect indicative

che tu sei venuto.

Marco dice

Imperfect indicative

che tu venivi spesso.

Later (an event or act happening in the future in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Marco dice

Present indicative

che tu vieni stasera.

Marco dice

Future indicative

che tu verrai stasera.

Marco dice

Present conditional

che tu verresti stasera.

Time context

Main verb in past tense

Verb in dependent clause

Same (an event or act happening at the time of speaking or writing)

Marco ha detto / diceva

Present indicative

che tu insegni italiano.

Marco ha detto / diceva

Imperfect indicative

che tu insegnavi italiano

Earlier (an event or act happening in the past in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Marco ha detto / diceva

Pluperfect indicative

che eri venuto.

Later (an event or act happening in the future in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Marco ha detto / diceva

Future indicative

che verrà domani sera.

Marco ha detto / diceva

Past conditional

che avrebbe finito alle 5.00.

Time context

Main verb in future tense

Verb in dependent clause

Same (an event or act happening at the time of speaking or writing)

Gli dirò

Present indicative

che tu vieni tutti l giorni in ufficio.

Earlier (an event or act happening in the past in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Gli dirò

Perfect indicative

che noi abbiamo già mangiato.

Gli dirò

Imperfect

che stavi male.

Later (an event or act happening in the future in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Gli dirò

Future indicative

che tu verrai domani.

Dependent verbs in the subjunctive

After a main verb such as credere, pensare, sembra, the dependent clause is normally in the subjunctive mood, to express doubt or uncertainty. If there is less doubt or uncertainty, the conditional mood can be used instead. When the action referred to is in the future, either the present subjunctive is used or the future indicative, since the subjunctive has no future tense.

Time context

Main verb in present tense (present indicative, present conditional)

Verb in dependent clause

Same (an event or act happening at the time of speaking or writing)

Pensa

Present subjunctive

che tu sia brava.

Vorrei

Present conditional

che tu fossi qui con me.

Earlier (an event or act happening in the past in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Pensa

Past subjunctive

che tu sia venuto.

Pensa

Imperfect subjunctive

che tu studiassi poco.

Later (an event or act happening in the future in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Pensa

Future indicative

che tu verrai stasera.

Pensa

Present subjunctive

che Marco accetti il posto.

Time context

Main verb in past tense (imperfect, perfect, past definite, pluperfect)

Verb in dependent clause

Same (an event or act happening at the time of speaking or writing)

Pensava / ha pensato / pensò / aveva pensato

Imperfect subjunctive

che tu avessi una casa molto grande.

Earlier (an event or act happening in the past in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Pensava / ha pensato

Pluperfect subjunctive

che tu fossi venuto.

Later (an event or act happening in the future in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Pensava /ha pensato

Past conditional

che sarebbe venuto anche tuo marito.

Pensava / ha pensato

Imperfect indicative (replacing past conditional in informal speech only)

che veniva anche tuo marito.

Time context

Main verb in future tense (future indicative)

Verb in dependent clause

Same (an event or act happening at the time of speaking or writing)

Penserà

Present subjunctive

che tu venga tutti i giorni in ufficio.

Earlier (an event or act happening in the past in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Penserà

Perfect subjunctive

che tu sia venuta solo per vederlo.

Later (an event or act happening in the future in relation to the time of speaking or writing)

Penserà

Future indicative

che partiremo domani in treno.

Penserà

Present subjunctive

che tu venga domani.