Future in the past — forms, uses & nuance
B2 • reference
What does “future in the past” mean?
We describe an event that was future from a past viewpoint. English shows this by using past versions of future forms. Typical in reported speech and storytelling.
- Now → future “I will call you tomorrow.”
- Past viewpoint He said he would call me the next day.
Time words usually shift: tomorrow → the next day, next week → the following week, here → there, this → that.
Form map: present/future → past viewpoint
| Meaning now | Form now | From a past viewpoint | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prediction / promise | will + base | would + base | We thought it would rain. |
| Intention / plan | be going to + base | was/were going to + base | I was going to call, but my phone died. |
| Fixed arrangement | present continuous (I’m meeting…) | past continuous (I was meeting…) | She said she was meeting the client on Friday. |
| On-going future action | will be + -ing | would be + -ing | He knew we would be travelling at 8. |
| Completed before a future time | will have + pp | would have + pp | They promised they would have finished by Monday. |
| Duration up to a future time | will have been + -ing | would have been + -ing | By June she would have been working there ten years. |
For timetables you may also see was/were to + base (formal) or simple past: He said the train left at five.
Was/were going to
Intended plan from a past viewpoint. It often suggests the plan didn’t happen, but context can show it did.
- I was going to text you, but I fell asleep. (plan not carried out)
- We were going to move in May — and we did. (plan carried out; context says so)
wasn’t/weren’t going to = intention not to do something: She wasn’t going to tell anyone.
Would (future from the past)
Neutral way to project a later event from a past point.
- I didn’t know the meeting would run so long.
- He said he would help if needed.
Not the same as habitual would:
On Sundays we would visit grandma = past habit, not future-in-the-past.
wouldn’t can mean refusal: The car wouldn’t start.
In reported speech
Backshift shows the “future in the past”.
- “We’ll send an engineer.” → They said they would send an engineer.
- “I’m going to change jobs.” → She said she was going to change jobs.
- “I’m meeting HR.” → He said he was meeting HR on Friday.
In time clauses after when/as soon as/before/after, keep a past tense, not would: He said he’d call when he arrived.
Polite or tentative future from a past point
- He asked if I would be staying long. (polite)
- They wondered whether the team would be able to meet the deadline.
Other future-looking phrases (past viewpoint)
was/were about to + base
Very near future from a past point.
- I was about to reply when the call dropped.
was/were on the verge/point/brink of + -ing
- She was on the verge of quitting.
was/were due to + base
- The flight was due to leave at 21:40.
was/were to + base
Formal; official plans or instructions; also in conditionals.
- The minister was to announce the policy at noon.
- You were not to discuss the test. (order/prohibition)
- If he was to succeed, he needed support.
was/were to have + pp
Planned but did not happen.
- The band was to have played outdoors, but it rained.
Nuance & common contrasts
- was going to vs would
going to highlights an intention/plan; would is neutral, often used with verbs of thinking/saying: We believed sales would rise. - Questions/negatives
Was he going to…? (ask about a plan) • He wouldn’t do it. (refusal) • She wasn’t going to apply. (no intention) - Narrative “would”
Use to foreshadow: I didn’t realise then that this email would change my career.
Tip: In time clauses from a past viewpoint, use a past tense (when he arrived), not would arrive.
Time-word shifting (backshifting)
| Direct speech | Past viewpoint |
|---|---|
| tomorrow / next week / soon | the next day / the following week / soon (unchanged) |
| this / these / here / now | that / those / there / then |
| in two days | two days later |
Exercises:
Future in the past” (was going to / would)
Choose the most appropriate form to refer to the future in the past to complete the sentences below.
1
I
you last night, but my phone died.
2
She promised she
the files in the morning.
3
It looked like it
, so we stayed in.
4
He said he
by the exit at six.
5
We
at the station, but her train was cancelled.
6
They realized they
leave early to catch the first train.
7
According to the announcement, the bridge
for repairs all week.
8
Just as I
‘Send’, the computer crashed.
9
We knew the ceremony
place at noon.
10
I thought you
me with the boxes.
Future in the past” (was going to / would)
Instruction: Choose the correct or most appropriate form referring to the future from a past viewpoint. Some items have one correct answer; others have more than one.
1
Back in 2018, we expected the app ____ five million users by the end of 2020.
A.
B.
C.
D.
2
I ____ call you, but then my phone died.
A.
B.
C.
D.
3
The train ____ at 6:30, but a strike was announced.
A.
B.
C.
D.
4
He said he ____ us later that evening.
A.
B.
C.
D.
5
I didn’t interrupt because she ____ something important.
A.
B.
C.
D.
6
They ____ married the following spring, but they split up in February.
A.
B.
C.
D.
7
By the time we arrived, the keynote ____ according to the programme, but it started late.
A.
B.
C.
D.
8
He promised that he ____ by seven, so we waited.
A.
B.
C.
D.
9
I had packed my bags and ____ when the email arrived cancelling the trip.
A.
B.
C.
D.
10
Who knew that tiny side project ____ our main product?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Future in the past” (was going to / would)
Fill in the gaps using the verb in brackets in a future form so that it expresses the idea suggested above. Do NOT use contractions.
1
He had planned it earlier. He (call) you that evening, but he forgot.
2
We knew from the start they (win) easily.
3
I thought it (rain), so I brought an umbrella.
4
At 8:55 she (leave) when the boss arrived.
5
They promised they (wait) outside when we arrived.
6
By the end of the year the team hoped they (finish) the redesign.
7
After reading the memo, he decided he (attend) the briefing.
8
I (tell) you the truth, but you had already guessed.
9
Maria said, “I will help you tomorrow.” → Maria said she (help) me the next day.
10
We expected the flight (land) by 18:40, but it was delayed.