past viewpoint + subject + would + base verbUse would when a past moment looks forward to something later.
Future in the Past
B1Future in the Past shows a future event from a past viewpoint. Use would, was/were going to, and was/were about to based on meaning.
What you'll learn
- Use would after a past viewpoint to show a later future.
- Use was/were going to for past plans and intentions.
- Use was/were about to for the immediate next moment in the past.
- Choose the form by meaning: later future, plan, or immediate next action.
- Recognize markers that move the reference point into the past.
Structure
subject + was/were going to + base verbUse was/were going to for a plan or intention from a past viewpoint.
subject + was/were about to + base verbUse was/were about to when the action was just one moment away.
Build a sentence
Subject
Verb
Annawasgoing to start
Anna was going to start in June.
Use was going to even if the plan later changed.
When to use
Reported future
A past verb like said, knew, or promised sets a past viewpoint. What was still in the future then often takes would.
Past plans
Use was/were going to for plans, intentions, or expected actions in the past. The plan may happen later, change, or fail.
Immediate next moment
Use was/were about to when something was just going to happen. It often appears with when to show interruption at the last second.
Markers
saidthoughtknewpromisedlatersoonthe next daywhen
Common mistakes
Wrong
Anna said she will call me later.
Correct
Anna said she would call me later.
The sentence starts from a past viewpoint with said, so the later future is shown with would.
Wrong
They was going to leave early.
Correct
They were going to leave early.
Plural subjects take were, not was.
Wrong
Last year, I am going to move to Chicago.
Correct
Last year, I was going to move to Chicago.
Last year sets a past viewpoint, so use was/were going to, not am/is/are going to.
Wrong
The train would leave when Tom reached the platform.
Correct
The train was about to leave when Tom reached the platform.
This means the action was just going to happen at that moment, so was about to fits better than would.
Wrong
Maya would start a new job in June, but the company closed.
Correct
Maya was going to start a new job in June, but the company closed.
This sentence describes a plan in the past, so was going to is the better choice.
Common misconceptions
❝ Future in the Past only appears in reported speech. ❞
It also appears in plain narration about past plans and near-future moments: I was going to leave. The show was about to start.
❝ Would always works, so I do not need was going to or was about to. ❞
Would is only one option. Use was/were going to for plans and was/were about to for the immediate next moment.
Skills in this rule (5)
WOULD_AFTER_PAST_REPORTINGw5Use would for a later future seen from a past moment
Use would when a past sentence looks forward to something that was still in the future at that time. It often follows past reporting verbs like said, knew, thought, or promised.
WAS_WERE_GOING_TO_FOR_PLANSw5Use was/were going to for past plans and intentions
Use was/were going to when someone had a plan or intention in the past. The action was in the future from that past moment, whether it happened or not.
WAS_WERE_ABOUT_TO_FOR_IMMEDIATE_NEXTw4Use was/were about to for something that was just going to happen
Use was/were about to when the next action was very close in time from a past viewpoint. It often describes an immediate next moment.
CHOOSE_FORM_BY_MEANINGw5Choose would, was going to, or was about to by meaning
Pick would for neutral later future from a past view, was/were going to for plans, and was/were about to for the immediate next moment. The choice depends on meaning, not just time words.
PAST_VIEWPOINT_MARKERSw3Recognize markers that set a past viewpoint
Words and phrases like said, thought, knew, later, the next day, and soon show that the sentence looks forward from a past moment. These markers help you choose a future-in-the-past form.