时态的从属(tense-subordination)，或时态的序列，或时态的一致，或时态的呼应，其实都是一个意思，即从句中所用的时态取决于主句中所用的时态。关于这个问题，一般语法书只讲主句时态为过去一般时的一些用法，如：
(1)He told me he was unwell. （主句时态所表示的时间与从句时态相同）
(2)She said she had finished her work. （从句时态的动作先于主句时态）
(3)They said they would come. （从句时态的动作后于主句时态）
实际上，时态从属的内容是很丰富的，远远不止这些。譬如：
(4)The right to rule is derived from those who gave it.
在这个句子中，主句的时态并不是过去一般时，而是现在一般时。从句中的过去一般时gave 显然从属于主句中的is derived。过去一般时从属于现在一般时的情况并不罕见，再如：
(5)“Ensue” implies that what follows comes as a logical consequence of what preceded. （过去一般时preceded从属于现在一般时comes）
(6)In that country, a man is often accused of something which he did not do. （过去一般时did not do从属于现在一般时is accused）
(7)When the ball goes out of bounds, the referee decides which player touched last. （过去一般时touched从属于现在一般时decides）
过去一般时也可以从属于将来一般时，如：
(8)As soon as you get it, mail it to me here. I'll be on the lookout, so Tom will never know it came. （过去一般时came从属于将来一般时will know。从“现在”角度看，过去一般时came在此表“将来”）
(9)In the years to come it will be a great thing for people to say that I died like a hero. （过去一般时died从属于to say，但to say在此表将来，故died仍从属于将来时态）
(10)Be sure to let me know you arrived safely. （过去一般时arrived亦从属于表将来的不定式）
上述三例中的过去一般时，从“现在”的角度来看，皆表“将来”，但也有表其他时间的情况，如：
(11)Well, I hope it will turn out all right. Only don't say I didn't warn you. （过去一般时didn't warn表“现在”）
(12)I'll tell him you were here. （过去一般时were表“现在”或“过去”）
(13)If you see John, tell him I had to go out of town. （过去一般时had to go表“现在”或“将来”）
过去一般时当然也可以从属于另一过去一般时，如：
(14)I didn't know you were here.（过去一般时were从属于过去一般时didn't know。注意were在此表“现在”）
(15)He said his name was David. （过去一般时was从属于过去一般时said。注意 was在此表“经常”）
(16)I got a job because I was a woman. （过去一般时was从属于过去一般时got。was在此只表当时得到工作的身份，与got同时）
关于过去一般时从属于别的时态的情况，我们已经谈了不少。现在让我们简略地看看其他一些时态的从属情况。
过去完成时：
(17)He said he would come as soon as he had finished his work. （过去完成时had finished从属于过去将来时would come，可能表“将来”）
过去进行时：
(18)Was it next Sunday they were coming? （过去进行时were coming从属于过去一般时was，表“将来”）
现在一般时：
(19)Write and tell me what you decide. （现在一般时decide从属于表将来的write and tell, 亦表“将来”。注意这里的decide不可代之以will decide，因为will decide表示其动作将发生在write and tell之后）
像这样的现在一般时也不罕见，再如：
(20)You'll soon know who is elected. （is elected 从属于will know）
(21)I'll tell you how it goes tonight. （goes从属于will tell）
(22)We'd better go and see Jane. She'll be wondering why we don't come. （don't come 从属于将来进行时will be wondering）
(23)We'll work for what we have, not borrow! （have从属于will work）
现在完成时：
(24)When a man goes back to look at the house of his childhood, it has always shrunk. （现在完成时has shrunk在此从属于现在一般时goes）
(25)A man who has once acquired the art of intelligent reading and of lucid expression, has received no mean measure of education. （现在完成时has acquired与has received在此从属于a man，而a man所存在的状态自然应由现在一般时所表示。所以，实质上句中的两个现在完成时是从属于现在一般时的）
现在进行时：
(26)I'll tell him I'm using it. （现在进行时am using 可能从属于will tell表“将来”，与“现在”无关。注意am using不可代之以will be using， 否则，其动作将发生于will tell之后）
(27)On election night we'll be telling you what's happening in various places in this country. （现在进行时is happening从属于将来进行时will be telling，表 “将来”。它亦不可代之以将来进行时，理由同前）
(28)Sound is produced when the air which is being forced up from the lungs puts the vocal chords into vibration. （现在进行时is being forced从属于现在一般时puts）
将来一般时：
(29)Write and tell us what you'll do. （将来一般时will do从属于表将来的write and tell，表“将来的将来”，即对write and tell而言的将来）
将来进行时：
(30)He will come to ask you if you'll be wanting anything. （将来进行时will be wanting从属于will come，表示“将来的将来”，即对will come to ask而言的将来）
过去将来时：
(31)He said he would come tomorrow. （过去将来时would come 从属于过去一般时said，表“将来”）
综上可以看出： 许多时态都可以从属于其他时态，而且一种时态还可以分别从属于一种以上的时态。对中国学生来说，懂得了这一点无疑是会很有益处的。
然而，请注意下列各句的有关时态皆属特殊用法，并不从属于任何其他时态：
(1)Did you find the pen you lost ? （过去一般时可表“过去的过去”）
(2)Maggie hoped nothing like that happened . （过去一般时可表“过去的将来”）
(3)I would rather you remained here. （虚拟语气，此处不讨论）
(4)The boy who was standing there ran away. （过去进行时与过去一般时一样，亦可表“过去的过去”）
(5)I'll tell him when he comes . （现在一般时可表“将来”）
(6)When you are passing my way, please drop in. （现在进行时可表“将来”）
