The Future in the Past

• When we look back from a point in the past to talk about an event that was future at that moment, we use specific structures known as the future in the past.
• Structure
• Usage
• Example
• was / were going to
• Plans or intentions that may or may not have happened
• Mark was going to raise a sensitive topic in Austin.
• was / were about to
• Actions that were going to happen immediately
• Sarah was about to leave the office in London.
• would
• Future predictions or repeated actions from a past viewpoint
• Brian knew Lisa would support his career ambitions.
• was / were supposed to
• Scheduled events or obligations that often failed to happen
• David was supposed to attend the weekly check-in.
• Remember
• Use 'was going to' for interrupted plans or unfulfilled intentions.
• Use 'was about to' when an action is on the immediate threshold of happening in the past.
• Use 'would' for past predictions or willingness regarding the future.
• Use 'was supposed to' to express expectations, schedules, or duties that existed in the past.
• Examples
• Kevin was going to cancel the meeting in Chicago.
• Rachel was about to speak when the phone rang in Boston.
• The director promised he would approve the budget in Seattle.
• The managers were supposed to meet in Manchester yesterday.
• Common mistakes
• She was going to tells her boss about the transfer.
• She was going to tell her boss about the transfer.
• They were supposed review the notes in Edinburgh.
• They were supposed to review the notes in Edinburgh.

Complete the sentences

• Mark (go to) ____ resign from his job in Boston before the CEO offered him a promotion.
• Sarah (about to) ____ send the email in London when her manager walked in.
• David knew that Lisa (will) ____ help him prepare for the presentation in Chicago.
• The team (suppose to) ____ finish the audit report by Friday in Seattle.
• Kevin (be to) ____ lead the new project in Austin, but plans changed suddenly.
• Rachel (leave) ____ quit her role in Manchester before they gave her a pay rise.

Sources: photo by Tong Quan on Pexels