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
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence 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
Choose the correct options for the gaps in these sentences.
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
Rewrite the second part of the sentence without repeating the verb or verb phrase. Include ‘to’ when it is required. Don’t include ‘to’ when it can be dropped.
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.