There are several constructions that are used to describe thoughts about the future that someone had at some point in the past. These constructions are known as the Future in the Past:
I was going to have a party, but nobody could come.
Tom always knew he would be a good student.
Mary was very happy on Saturday morning. She was visiting her friends that evening.
The Future in the Past can be used to describe an earlier prediction with the help of ‘was / were going to’.
| ‘Going to’ is used to talk about the future from the present moment:
The traffic is awful! I think (present view) I‘m going to be late.
‘Was/were going to’ is used to talk about the future from some point in the past:
I thought (past view) I was going to be late, but I’m right on time. |
Mike was going to buy a new shirt, but he couldn’t find one.
Sorry I interrupted. Were you going to say something?
The Future in the Past can be used to describe a future event or action with the help of ‘would’.
| ‘Will’ is used to talk about the future from the present moment:
I think (present view) I will finish my work today. It shouldn’t take too long.
‘Would’ is used to talk about the future from some point in the past:
I thought (past view) I would finish my work today, but there was still a lot left to do. |
Michael was told that his car would be fixed by 5 o’clock.
Did you ever think you would become a pilot?
The Future in the Past can also be used to talk about an arranged future event from a time in the past.
In such statements we use the Past Continuous:
Jenny was very nervous on Monday morning. She was taking her English test that afternoon (arranged future event in the past).
Gabriel had been cleaning the room all day. His mother was arriving that evening.
We had to go to bed because we were flying early the next morning.