Sequence of Tenses Examples

Question 1

I hope that John [has come] to the party.

Answer 1

Ojalá que Juan [haya venido] a la fiesta.

present perfect subjunctive

Question 2

I wish that John [were coming] to the party.

Answer 2

Ojalá que Juan [viniera] a la fiesta.

imperfect subjunctive

Question 3

I wish that John [had come] to the party.

Answer 3

Ojalá que Juan [hubiera venido] a la fiesta.

pluperfect subjunctive

Question 4

I believe she [is coming].

Answer 4

Creo que ella viene.

indicative

Question 5

I don’t believe she [is coming] (or [will come]).

Answer 5

No creo que ella [venga].

present subjunctive

Question 6

I believe she [will come].

Answer 6

Creo que ella vendrá.

simple future

Question 7

I don’t believe she [will come] (or [is coming]).

Answer 7

No creo que ella [venga].

present subjunctive

Question 8

I believe she [has come].

Answer 8

Creo que ella [ha venido].

present perfect indicative

Question 9

I don’t believe she [has come].

Answer 9

No creo que ella [haya venido].

present perfect subjunctive

Question 10

I believe she (probably) [has come].

Answer 10

Creo que ella [habrá venido].

future perfect – indicates probability in the present here

Question 11

I believe she [came].

Answer 11

Creo que ella [vino].

preterite

Question 12

I don’t believe she [came].

Answer 12

No creo que ella [viniera].

imperfect subjunctive

Question 13

I believed she [was coming].

Answer 13

Creí que ella venía.

imperfect

Question 14

I didn’t believe she [would come].

preterite independent clause

Answer 14

No creí que ella [viniera].

imperfect subjunctive + preterite = future of the past

Question 15

I believed she [would come].

Answer 15

Creí que ella [vendría].

conditional

Question 16

I believed she [came].

Answer 16

Creía que ella [vino].

preterite

Question 17

I didn’t believe she [would come].

imperfect independent clause

Answer 17

No creía que ella [viniera].

imperfect subjunctive

Question 18

I believed she [had come].

imperfect independent clause

Answer 18

Creía que ella [había venido].

pluperfect indicative

Question 19

I didn’t believe she [had come].

imperfect independent clause

Answer 19

No creía que ella [hubiera venido].

pluperfect subjunctive

Question 20

I believed she probably [had come].

imperfect independent clause

Answer 20

Creía que ella [habría venido].

pluperfect conditional?

Question 21

[Can] you give me the phonebook?
[Could] you give me the phonebook?
[Would you please] give me the phonebook?

Answer 21

¿[Puede] darme la guía telefónica?
¿[Podría] darme la guía telefónica?
¿[Pudiera] darme la guía telefónica?

Question 22

[Do you want] to go with me to the movies?
[Would you like] to go with me to the movies?
[Would you please] like to go with me to the movies?

Answer 22

¿[Quieres] acompañarme al cine?
¿[Querrías] acompañarme al cine?
¿[Quisieras] acompañarme al cine?

Question 23

[You should] study more if you want to get good grades.
[You ought to] study more if you want to get good grades.
[You really ought to] study more if you want to get good grades.

Answer 23

[Debes] estudiar más si quieres sacar buenas notas.
[Deberías] estudiar más si quieres sacar buenas notas.
[Debieras] estudiar más si quieres sacar buenas notas.

Question 24

I hope that John [comes] to the party.

Answer 24

Ojalá que Juan [venga] a la fiesta.

present subjunctive