Future in the Past
The future in the past describes something that was still in the future at a past moment — a plan, expectation, or prediction we had back then. It's essential for…
The future in the past describes something that was still in the future at a past moment — a plan, expectation, or prediction we had back then. It’s essential for storytelling and reported speech.
The forms
| Present form | Future-in-the-past form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| will | would | I knew she would succeed. |
| going to | was/were going to | We were going to leave, but it rained. |
| Present Continuous (arrangement) | Past Continuous | He was meeting her later that day. |
| be about to | was/were about to | I was about to call you. |
| be due to | was/were due to | The flight was due to land at noon. |
Often about unrealised plans“was/were going to” frequently signals a plan that didn’t happen: “We were going to get married, but we split up.” The structure looks back at a future that was expected from an earlier viewpoint — whether or not it came true.
Examples from EduCareer
- Aisha was nervous because she was going to give a presentation.
- We were about to start the lesson when the power cut out.
- Omar said he would finish the homework that evening.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersThink of it as shifting every future form “one step back.” will becomes would; is going to becomes was going to; is meeting becomes was meeting. This same backshift is exactly what you do in reported speech, so mastering one helps the other.
Common mistakes
- I knew she will succeed. → I knew she would succeed.
- We were going to left. → We were going to leave.
- He was about to calling me. → He was about to call me.
Practise with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."I knew she ___ succeed one day."
will → would (future in the past).
2."We ___ leave, but it started to rain."
unrealised past plan → were going to.
3."I ___ call you when you arrived."
past imminent plan → was about to.
4."The train ___ arrive at noon, but it was late."
scheduled (past view) → was due to.
5.'going to' shifts to which past form?
was/were going to.
6.Which is correct?
backshift will → would.
7."He ___ meet her later that evening." (arrangement, past)
Present Continuous → Past Continuous.
8.Which is correct?
going to + base verb.
9."She was excited — she ___ travel abroad."
plan from a past viewpoint.
10."They ___ start the meeting when I walked in."
past imminent → were about to.
11."He promised he ___ help."
reported promise → would.
12.'be about to' (past) becomes:
was/were about to.
13."We ___ get married, but we changed our minds."
unrealised plan → were going to.
14.Which is correct?
about to + infinitive.
15."I had no idea what ___ happen next."
future in the past → would.
16."The guests ___ arrive any minute, so we hurried."
past imminent → were about to.
17."She told me she ___ apply for the job."
reported plan → was going to.
18.The future-in-the-past of 'is due to' is:
was/were due to.
19."It was getting dark; soon it ___ be night."
prediction from a past viewpoint → would.
20."We ___ watch a film, but fell asleep instead."
unrealised past plan → were going to.
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