Future in the Past

B2 · Upper IntermediateFuture Forms

Future in the past lets you step back to an earlier moment and describe what the future looked like from there — whether or not it actually happened.

What you'll learn

  • Formed with was/were going to + base verb, or would + base verb
  • Describes a plan or expectation that existed at a past moment
  • Very common in reported speech (she said she would call)
  • Often signals a plan that changed or didn't happen

The future, seen from the past

Future in the past describes something that was going to happen, or was expected to happen, from the point of view of an earlier moment — not from now.

"I was going to call you, but I forgot."
"She said she would call later."

Formation: was/were going to and would

Use was/were going to + base verb for a plan or intention that existed in the past. Use would + base verb mainly in reported speech, backshifting will from the original statement.

"They weren't going to come, but they changed their minds."
"He said he would arrive by noon."

Plans that didn't happen

One of the most common uses of future in the past is describing a plan that fell through — the sentence often continues with but to explain what happened instead.

"He was going to study medicine, but he chose law instead."
"We were going to visit them, but the trip got cancelled."

Backshifting will to would

When you report what someone said in the past, will typically becomes would — this is the same backshift pattern you see elsewhere in reported speech.

"'I will call you.' → She said she would call me."
"'It will rain.' → I thought it was going to rain."

Real English

"I was going to text you, but my phone died."
"They said they would arrive by noon."
"Was she going to apply for the job?"
"We thought it was going to be sunny."

Watch out

✗I going to call you, but I forgot.
✓I was going to call you, but I forgot.

Don't drop was/were — future in the past needs was/were going to, not just going to.

✗He would going to study medicine, but he chose law instead.
✓He was going to study medicine, but he chose law instead.

Don't combine would with going to — choose one pattern: was/were going to, or would on its own.

✗She said she will call later.
✓She said she would call later.

In reported speech about the past, will usually backshifts to would.

Real life — Explaining a change of plan

"I thought you were going to bring dessert?"

"I was! But the bakery was closed, so I got flowers instead."

"No worries — did you tell Sam you'd be late?"

"Yes, I said I would text him when I left."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — a plan that existed in the past.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence (reported speech).

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct negative

Choose the correct negative.

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct question

Choose the correct question.

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — a plan that didn't happen.

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct answer

Which best describes 'future in the past'?

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence

Complete: 'She ___ (be/going to) meet us at six, but she called to cancel.'

Exercise 10 · Complete the sentence

Complete: 'He said he ___ (call) as soon as he arrived.' (reported speech)

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

was going to leave
will leave
would call
will call
was going to rain
will rain

0 / 6 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct sentence.

You learned

  • Future in the past is formed with was/were going to, or would, + base verb.
  • It describes a plan or expectation that existed at a past moment.
  • It's very common in reported speech, where will backshifts to would.
  • It often introduces a plan that changed or didn't happen.

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