The Future in the Past

• When we talk about plans or expectations that existed in the past from that past perspective, we use specific future-in-the-past forms. These structures help us discuss cancelled projects and dashed hopes in Austin, London, or New York.
• Form
• Meaning
• Example
• was going to
• An intention or a planned action
• We were going to release the app in Boston.
• was about to
• An action expected to happen very soon
• She was about to send the go-to-market plan.
• would
• A future action seen from a past viewpoint
• He promised he would review the wireframes.
• was supposed to
• An obligation, schedule, or expectation
• The launch event was supposed to happen in June.
• was to
• A formal arrangement or official plan
• The design team was to present the prototype.
• Remember
• Use 'was going to' for past intentions that may or may not have happened.
• Use 'was about to' for immediate actions interrupted in the past.
• Use 'was supposed to' when an expected plan failed or changed.
• Use 'would' for predicted future events within a past narrative.
• Examples
• Mark was going to update the dashboard in Seattle.
• The agency was about to pull the plug on the project.
• The new design system was supposed to save hours of coding.
• Common mistakes
• We were going to launching the site.
• We were going to launch the site.
• The product was suppose to ship last Friday.
• The product was supposed to ship last Friday.

Complete the sentences

• Sarah (go to) ____ present the new app design in Chicago.
• The board (be about to) ____ approve the budget when the crisis hit.
• We (be supposed to) ____ test the prototype in London yesterday.
• David knew that the agency (would) ____ redesign the checkout flow.
• The lead designer (be to) ____ meet the client in Seattle at noon.
• Emma (go to) ____ finalize the wireframes before the meeting.

Sources: photo by Edalisu . on Pexels