English Daily Workout: Future in the Past : Would, Past Continuous, Going to, and Was/Were to"

The use of "would", "past continuous", "was/were going to", and "was/were to + infinitive" and "was/were to have + past participle" for talking about the future seen from the past.

There are different ways of expressing “future in the past”:

. By using “was/were going to”

It describes what was a future plan or intention at a certain point in the past that may or may not have taken place.

"I was going to go the party, but unfortunately my colleague got ill and I had to do her job." (I was going to but I didn’t.)

"I decided I was going to become an actress when I was 5."

. By using “past continuous”

Just as “the present continuous tense” is used for arrangements, the “past continuous” tense can be used to express what was a future arrangement in the past. (The event may or may not have taken place )

I didn’t call him because we were meeting on Sunday.

I was travelling to Edinburgh that night, but my flight was cancelled.

. By using “would”

The use of “would” implies a possibility or expectation, but no plans

"I knew Mary would win the competition. She was head and shoulders above the rest of the performers."

. By using “was/were to + infinitive” (for events which took place)

“was/were to have + past participle”(for events which didn't happen)

"When she first auditioned the judges knew she was to become a great singer." (the event happened)

"The board of directors was to have promoted Joan as manager, but they later discovered she had been passing vital information to the competition." (the event was arranged but did not happen)

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