Future in the Past is used to express the idea that in
the past you thought something would happen in the future. This can be
expressed in different ways:
- By using "was / were going to", you
describe a future plan, intention or prediction at a certain point in the past
that may or may not have taken place. Examples:
·
I told you
he was going to come to the party. (plan)
· I had a feeling that the vacation was going to be a disaster. (prediction)
·
I knew
you were not going to go to the party.
- By using "past continuous".
Just as we use the present continuous for arrangements, the past continuous can
be use to express what was a future arrangement in the past. Example:
·
I was travelling
to London that night but my flight was cancelled.
- By using "would" to imply
a possibility or expectation. Examples:
· I knew Julie would make dinner.
· I knew you would not help him.
Remember No Future
in Time Clauses
Like all future
forms, 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
And now some exercises for you to practise:
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