TIME RELATIONS INSIDE A PERIOD

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In a period or in a group of clauses the times of the verbal forms can be two.

The time of the main clause is absolute, as the main clause is independent.

The time of the dependent clause is determined by the one of the main.

Between a main clause and a dependent clause there can be three different time relations:

• Anteriority  (the action of the dependent clause happens before the action in the main clause)
• Contemporaneity  (the two actions, the action in the main clause and that one in the dependent clause, happen in the same moment)
• Posteriority  (the action of the dependent clause happens after the action in the main clause)

Note:
Even the moods of the clauses in a period have different natures. This argument is discussed in the section of the concordance of moods and times.

Go to: anteriority > contemporaneity > posteriority

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