The sequence of tenses
The sequence of tenses
Tense agreement in the clause: simultaneity, anteriority, posteriority.
⚡Key points
Main verb in the present→clause: present / passé composé / future
Main verb in the past→imparfait / pluperfect / conditional
Simultaneity→present ↔ imparfait
Anteriority→passé composé ↔ pluperfect
Posteriority→future ↔ present conditional
The principle of agreement
The tense in the subordinate clause depends on the tense of the main verb and whether the action happens at the same time, before or after. This applies to noun clauses (il dit que…, je sais que…).
Main verb in the present
| Simultaneity | Il dit qu’il travaille. | present |
| Anteriority | Il dit qu’il a travaillé. | passé composé |
| Posteriority | Il dit qu’il travaillera. | future |
Main verb in the past
If the main verb is in the past (a dit, savait), the tenses “shift”: simultaneity → imparfait, anteriority → pluperfect, posteriority → present conditional.
Main verb in the past
| Simultaneity | Il a dit qu’il travaillait. | imparfait |
| Anteriority | Il a dit qu’il avait travaillé. | pluperfect |
| Posteriority | Il a dit qu’il travaillerait. | present conditional |
💡⚠️ A general truth stays in the present
If the clause expresses an eternal truth or a fact still valid now, the tense does not shift: Galilée a prouvé que la Terre tourne. Agreement is required for changeable, time-bound facts.
Le prof a expliqué que l’eau bout à 100°C. (general truth → present)
Il a dit qu’il était malade. (a moment → imparfait)
Dialogue: news from a friend
NadiaLucas m’a dit qu’il déménageait à Lyon.
PaulIl avait déjà trouvé un appartement ?
NadiaOui, il a précisé qu’il avait signé la semaine d’avant.
PaulEt il a ajouté qu’il nous inviterait bientôt.
Nadia: Lucas told me he was moving to Lyon. | Paul: Had he already found a flat? | Nadia: Yes, he said he had signed the week before. | Paul: And he added that he would invite us soon.