Future (going to) in the past

The Future in the Past has two different forms in English: "would" and "was going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two different meanings.

FORM Would [would + VERB]

Examples:

I knew they would help him.

I knew they would not do it.

I knew you would come to the party!

I knew you would not say good-bye

FORM Was/Were Going To [was/were + going to + VERB]

Examples:

I knew you were going to go to the party.

I knew you were not going to go to the party.

USE 1 Future in Past

Future in the Past is used to express the idea that in the past you thought something would happen in the future. It does not matter if you are correct or not. Future in the Past follows the same basic rules as the Simple Future: "Would" is used to volunteer or make a spontaneous decision

Examples:

I’ll do it! / I’ll have a coke

I said I would do it / I said I would have a coke

or promise

Examples:

Promise I won’t tell

I promised I wouldn’t tell

and "was going to" is used for plans and intentions

Examples:

I’m going to talk to her tomorrow

I said I was going to talk to her the following day.

However, in the Future in the Past, both forms can be used to make predictions about the future.

Examples:

Tomorrow it’ll rain – but They said the following day was going to rain / They said the following day would rain.

More examples:

I told you he was going to come to the party. plan  or intention

I knew Julie would make dinner. voluntary action/spontaneous decision

Jane said Sam was going to bring his sister with him, but he came alone. PLAN  OR INTENTION

I had a feeling that the vacation was going to be a disaster. prediction

He promised he would send a postcard from Egypt. promise

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms,[1] the Future in the Past cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of using Future in the Past, you must use Simple Past.

Examples:

I already told Mark that when he would arrive, we would go out for dinner. Not Correct

I already told Mark that when he arrived, we would go out for dinner. Correct

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM. Active

I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM. Passive

I thought Sally was going to make a beautiful dinner. Active

I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be made by Sally. Passive

Find the sentences which can remind you of the theory! And practice saying them out loud.

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