Consecutio temporum
Consecutio temporum (also "sequence of times" or "sequence of times", "time relationship") is a term from the grammar of the Latin language, which is occasionally also used in German grammar. It is also used in a similar way in grammars of other languages or families , where a regulated sequence of tenses is given in complex sentences. It describes the system that regulates the use of times in compound sentences.
There are three possible time relationships between the main clause and the subordinate clause :
- The subordinate statement is at the same time as the superordinate statement (example: “While I sleep, I dream”).
- The subordinate statement is premature to the higher-level statement (example: “After I slept, I woke up”).
- The subordinate statement is after the parent statement (example: "Before I wake up, I sleep").
If two non-independent sets or subsets as a subordinate clause (protasis, subordinate phrases) and the main set ( Apodosis ) connected to each other , the result is a subordinating set; here the subordinated (“subordinate”) sentence (protasis) is dependent on the subordinate (“superordinate”) sentence (apodosis).
The consecutio temporum in Latin
This use of tense is strictly regulated in Latin . He demands the dependent, subordinate sentence, the subordinate clause following (protasis): When about the absolutely used verb in the main clause ( apodosis ) in the present tense is, in simultaneity and posteriority of the action, the action of the present subjunctive , coniunctivus praesens used in Prematurity of the subjunctive perfect coniunctivus perfectum. If, on the other hand, the absolutely used verb in the main clause is in a past tense, the subjunctive past tense or past perfect tense is used in the subordinate clause (apodosis).
Term clauses in the indicative
In indicative clauses (protasis) the same tense is used to denote simultaneity as in the main clause (apodosis); also, unlike in German, for example the future tense related to a future tense.
To designate prematurity, the present tense uses the perfect tense in the main clause, the future tense II for the future tense and the past perfect tense for a past tense.
Other rules that do not correspond to the consecutio temporum apply to the designation of the temporality . So stands z. B. with antequam / priusquam ('before', 'before'):
- related to a present tense: present tense or perfect tense
- related to a perfect: perfect
- related to a future tense: present tense or future tense II.
Even with simultaneity and prematurity, there are exceptions to the sequence of tenses for certain conjunctions: postquam (after) or ubi (as soon as) always stands with the perfect, dum (during) always with the present (absolute tense).
Term clauses in the subjunctive
To describe the consecutio temporum in subjunctive clauses, the superordinate statements are divided into main tenses (present and future tense) and secondary tenses (all past tenses). The following applies:
- Simultaneousness to a main tense is expressed by the present subjunctive, prematurity by the perfect subjunctive, later by the past participle and present subjunctive of esse ( coniugatio periphrastica ) in dependent questions, otherwise mostly by the present subjunctive.
- Simultaneousness to a secondary tense is expressed by the imperfect subjunctive, prematurity by the past tense subjunctive, later by the past participle and imperfect subjunctive of esse or by the imperfect subjunctive.
There are also exceptions to the consecutio temporum in subjunctive clauses ; especially in consecutive clauses there is usually absolute tense.
| simultaneity | Prematurity | Postponement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main tense | Present subjunctive | Subjunctive perfect | Present participle + Present subjunctive of esse |
| Secondary tempo | Imperfect subjunctive | Subjunctive past perfect | Past participle + imperfect subjunctive of esse |
The consecutio temporum in German
General
There is also a regular sequence of tenses in German, namely in temporal clauses . Only certain tenses can be combined with one another. If the description in the main clause refers to the past, then only the past tense, past perfect, perfect and future tense II may be used, e.g. B .:
- The barrel has been floating in the ocean since the ship went down.
However, the following combination is not possible:
- The barrel has been floating in the ocean since the ship went down.
Even with descriptions that refer to the present, only certain combinations of tenses are possible, namely with present, future I, perfect and future II:
- They do sports as often as they can.
However, the following combination is not possible:
- They do sports as often as they can.
The fact that the latter two tenses can also be found in this group is explained by their diverse uses, because they can represent the past, the present or the future. However, attention must be paid to the time reference:
- He must have called her after she left the house.
However, this combination is not possible:
- He will have called her tomorrow after she left the house.
Prematurity, simultaneity, laterality
The combination of tenses also depends on the time relationship that is expressed between the main and subordinate clauses. If the events take place simultaneously ( simultaneity ), so both have the same element sets Tempus, often while occurs as a conjunction:
- We went home while it was raining.
If the occurrence in the subordinate clause begins after that of the main clause ( later temporality ), the same tenses are often used in the subclauses. In addition, the present or past tense can also be used in the subordinate clause if the perfect or past perfect is used in the main clause. So the following combinations are possible:
- They got home before the rain started.
- They got home before the rain started.
Especially in the case of prematurity , i. H. if the occurrence in the subordinate clause begins before that of the main clause, the sequence of tenses is more strict, especially when using after . If the main clauses present or future tense I as absolute tenses (i.e. with reference to the present or future), the subordinate clauses perfect as a relative tense:
- When I get home, I greet him from you. / I will greet him from you.
In addition, the future tense II can be used instead of the perfect tense if the main clause contains the future tense I:
- When I get home, I'll call you.
If the main clause contains the past tense or perfect or past perfect, the subordinate clause contains the past perfect. In contrast to post temporality, this time relationship can also be expressed in the relative clause:
- The conductor checked my ticket, which I had bought from the machine.
The conjunctions if and as
In contrast to other conjunctions, which describe either before, simultaneity or after -temporality, if can describe both a one-time and a repetitive occurrence, which influences the sequence of times. In the latter case, the if sentence can be combined with different tenses, e.g. B .:
- [Always] when it snows we build a snowman.
- [Always] when it snowed, we made a snowman.
However, if only a one-off event is meant, then no tenses may be used that refer to the past:
- If it snows tomorrow, we'll build a snowman.
- (not possible :) If it snowed yesterday, we made a snowman.
These relationships are with the words:
- When it snowed yesterday, we made a snowman.
Individual evidence
- ↑ syntax. University of Frankfurt am Main, p. 3
- ↑ Hadumod Bußmann (Ed.): Lexicon of Linguistics. 3rd, updated and expanded edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-520-45203-0 , p. 142.