Question:
He gave me a ticket so that I may visit the book fair.
He gave me a ticket so that I may visit the book fair.
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Always check the tense of the main clause before choosing verb forms in subordinate clauses — mismatched tenses often sound unnatural and are marked as incorrect in grammar tests.
Updated On: Aug 14, 2025
- He gave me
- a ticket so that
- I may visit
- the book fair
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The use of "may" in "I may visit" is incorrect in this context because the main clause "He gave me a ticket" is in the past tense.
When the main clause is in the past tense, the verb in the subordinate clause should also shift to the past to maintain sequence of tenses.
Therefore, "may" (present tense modal) should be changed to "might" (past tense modal) to match the past-tense main clause.
Corrected sentence: "He gave me a ticket so that I might visit the book fair."
Why the other options are correct:
- Option (A) "He gave me" — correct past tense form.
- Option (B) "a ticket so that" — correct expression showing purpose.
- Option (D) "the book fair" — correct use of definite article for a specific event.
Grammar Rule — Sequence of Tenses:
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, verbs in subordinate clauses (especially in purpose clauses or reported speech) usually shift to past forms to maintain consistency.
Real-life examples:
- Wrong: "She said that she is happy." (when speaking about a past statement) - Correct: "She said that she was happy."
- Wrong: "He told me that I may borrow his car." - Correct: "He told me that I might borrow his car."
When the main clause is in the past tense, the verb in the subordinate clause should also shift to the past to maintain sequence of tenses.
Therefore, "may" (present tense modal) should be changed to "might" (past tense modal) to match the past-tense main clause.
Corrected sentence: "He gave me a ticket so that I might visit the book fair."
Why the other options are correct:
- Option (A) "He gave me" — correct past tense form.
- Option (B) "a ticket so that" — correct expression showing purpose.
- Option (D) "the book fair" — correct use of definite article for a specific event.
Grammar Rule — Sequence of Tenses:
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, verbs in subordinate clauses (especially in purpose clauses or reported speech) usually shift to past forms to maintain consistency.
Real-life examples:
- Wrong: "She said that she is happy." (when speaking about a past statement) - Correct: "She said that she was happy."
- Wrong: "He told me that I may borrow his car." - Correct: "He told me that I might borrow his car."
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