The future in the past
There are a number of constructions in English that can be used to describe thoughts about future that someone had at some point in the past.
using was going to
The future in the past is used to look back on an earlier prediction. Where
going tois used to talk about the future from the present,was/ were going tois used to talk about a past view of it.
| earlier | now |
|---|---|
This traffic is awful! I think I am going to be late for work |
I thought I was going to be late, but I am right on time |
how to form
Subject + was/ were + going to + verb + rest of sentence.
using would
Where
willis used to talk about a future event from the present,wouldis used to talk about a past view of it.
| earlier | now |
|---|---|
I think I will finish the gardening today.It shouldn't take too long. |
I thought I would finish today,but there is still a lot left to do. |
using the past continuous
The past continous is used to talk about an arranged future event from a time in the past.
| Monday morning | Monday afternoon | Now |
|---|---|---|
| nervous | driving test | Jenny was extermely nervous on Monday morning.She was talking her driving test that afternoon. |
eg:
- They
were planningto go to the beach tomorrow, but the weather’s terrible. - Michlle had been cleaning all day. Her sister
was arrivingthat evening. - Hugo had to go to bed early because he
was flyingearly the following morning.