Modal Ageement
In subbordinated clauses
Modals in subordinated clauses
| CONNECTOR | CLAUSE 1 - main verb | CLAUSE 2 - adjusted time frame |
|---|---|---|
so that |
Apple opened its iphone software to developers |
so that there would be more applications available. |
said that |
The company said |
that it would make the software available. |
that/which |
No one had any idea |
that developers would make so many useful applications. |
who |
Apple started advertising to young people |
who they believed would buy their iphones and ipods. |
if - then |
If Apple had not made their application software available |
then there would not be such amazing application development! |
Modals in cause-effect statements
| 1st CLAUSE: BE GOING TO | 2nd CLAUSE: WILL |
|---|---|
When using a complex sentence with two clauses, speakers vary their use of will and be going to. |
The first clause tends to use be going to and the second clause uses will. |
Apple is going to release a new iphone/ipod operating system |
so that they will do more amazing things. |
People with older phones are going to update their phones |
so that they will be able to take advantage of new features. |
Because iphones and ipods are going to get even better |
more people will want them. |
Modals in restated speech
| QUOTED SPEECH | REPORTED SPEECH |
|---|---|
The verb tense in quoted speech reflects the time at the moment of speaking. |
The verb tense in reported speech is adjusted to the time frame of the speaker reporting the quote. Adjust the time frame of the verb in the second clause to the verb in the first clause |
" We will lower the price of the iphone". |
Apple said it would lower the price of the iphone. |
"We are going to offer you several new features." |
Apple said it was going to offer us several new features. |
"3G service will allow iphone to send data even faster." |
Apple said that 4G service would
allow iphones to send data even faster. |
Modals in noun clauses
| PAST TENSE | FUTURE PREDICTION |
|---|---|
In 1984, the movie industry tried to block Sony from selling VCRs, |
which it thought would decrease movie attendance . |
The music industry had no idea |
that technology would proceed so rapidly. |
The music industry never predicted |
who would be
able to pirate music files so easily. |
Modals in conditionals statements
| CONDITION - A REAL SITUATION | FUTURE PREDICTION |
|---|---|
If Apple lowers the price of iPhones, |
then more people will buy one. |
If more people buy iphone applications, |
then more engineers will develop applications for them. |
If we have more choices,
|
then we will have more functionality. |
| CONDITION - AN IMAGINARY SITUATION | FUTURE PREDICTION |
|---|---|
If Apple had opened up the iphone service carrier earlier, |
then we would have chosen other service carriers. |
If Apple hadn't offered the application software to everyone, |
then there wouldn't have been so many creative games and clever applications. |
service carrier - phone company that provides voice and data service
Practice
Tense Agreement in Complex Clauses
- Choose a clause that logically completes the sentence
- Then check your answer. An asterisk * means "incorrect".