| Main clause | Subordinate clause | Examples |
| a. Verb is in the present or in the future tense | Verb may be in any tense | I know that John has already left for Chicago. I know where she went. |
| b. Verb in the past tense (usually Past Simple): | ||
| 1. The action of the verb in the main clause is simultaneous with the action of verb in the subordinate clause | Verb in Past Simple (Past Continuous) | I knew you were ready Я знал, что ты готов I told you that I was preparing for the lessons Я сказал тебе, что готовлюсь к урокам |
| 2. The action of the verb in the subordinate clause is prior than the action of verb in the main clause used in Past Simple But: the concrete time is mentioned in the subordinate clause But: with the adverbs – the day before, two years before | Past Perfect Past Simple Past Perfect | I didn’t know that he had gone to the cinema Я не знал, что он ушел в кино I knew you were in the cinema yesterday Я знал, что ты вчера был в кино He said that he had gone the day before. |
| 3. The action of the verb in the subordinate clause is later that the action of verb in the main clause | Future in the Past | I knew that he would go to the cinema Я знал, что он пойдет в кино |
| 4. The subordinate clause includes the subordinate clause of time and condition | Past Indefinite | She said it would be a pity if I went into a factory Она сказала, что было бы жаль, если бы я пошел работать на фабрику |
| 5. The subordinate clause expresses general truth | Present Simple | The teacher told us that the water boils at 100 degree. |
3. Practice:
1. Translate the sentences into Russian:
1. He asked me if I had been in the new theatre.
2. He said that he was in the theatre at the moment.
3. She told me that she didn't like dresses.
4. She told me that her mother hadn't liked dresses.
5. We were told that she was ill.
6. She said that she was cleaning her room.
7. Lena thought that she would be back early.
8. They told me that they had been watching a film since four o'clock.
9. They told me that they were watching a film.
10. They were asked where they lived.
11. She didn't know why he had left.
2. Open the brackets and choose the right variant:
1. She realized that nobody (will come/would come).
2. We understood that she (sees/saw) nothing.
3. He said he (will arrive/would arrive) in some days.
4. My mother was sure I already (have come/had come).
5. I didn't know they (are/were) in the room.
6. We supposed the rain (will stop/would stop) in some hours.
7. He said he never (has been/had been) to London.
8. We wanted to know who (is singing/was singing) in the next room.
9. I always thought he (is/was) a brave man.
10. When I saw him, he (is working/was working).
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11. We know she always (comes/came) in time.
12. She said she (has/had) a terrible headache.
13. We supposed they (will send/would send) us the documents.
14. He said he (has not seen/had not seen) us for ages.
3. Open the brackets using the correct tense form.
1. We were not sure that Linda would find Mary. We were afraid she (not, know) her address.
2. I didn’t introduce Paul to Katherine. I was sure they (know) each other.
3. Galileo proved that the Earth (move) round the Sun.
4. The Campbells were away. We learnt that they (travel) about Wales.
5. They’ve just announced that the exam in Economics (be put off) till the end of the next term.
6. I hoped that she (change) soon.
7. We decided that we (travel) to Venice by sea rather than go by air.
8. I knew they (to wait) for me at the metro station and I decided to hurry.
9. I didn't know that you already (to wind) up the clock.
10. I was afraid that the little girl (not to be) able to unlock the front door and (to go) upstairs to help her.
11. He says that he (to know) the laws of the country.
12. Sarie understood why Lanny (not to come) the previous evening.
13. She asked me whether I (to remember) the legend about a faithful lion.
14. He understood that the soldiers (to arrest) him.
15. He could not understand why people (not to want) to take water from that well.
16. I suppose they (to send) a dog after the burglar immediately.
17. He said he (to leave) tomorrow morning.
17. She says she already (to find) the book.
18. He stopped and listened: the clock (to strike) five.
19. She said she (can) not tell me the right time, her watch (to be) wrong.
20. I asked my neighbour if he ever (to travel) by air before.
4. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.
1. Она спросила, где они были вчера.
2. Он сказал нам, что уже видел этот фильм.
3. Он обещал ей, что позвонит на следующей неделе.
4. Она попросила, чтобы я написала письмо ее брату.
5. Она не советовала мне приглашать его на день рождения.
6. Их спросили, знают ли они этого писателя.
7. Мы не знали, когда она приедет.
8. Она не знала, где он.
9. Мы обрадовались, что они идут.
10. Она спросила, почему девочка плачет.
11. Она не могла вспомнить, что она делала вчера.
12. Она спросила продавца модное ли это платье.
1. Emily's aunt, Alice, came back from holiday in Australia and met her relatives and friends. Here's what they said when they saw her. Rewrite the sentences in reported speech.
Model: Sally: I like your new blouse.
Sally said that she liked Alice's new blouse.
