📖 Estimated reading time: 18 minutes | Word count: ~2800 words
⏳ Future in the Past: Complete Guide for B2 Learners
Table of Contents
- 1. What is Future in the Past?
- 2. Was/Were Going To (Intention / Prediction)
- 3. Would (Past Future / Habitual Actions)
- 4. Was/Were About To (Immediate Future)
- 5. Other Forms: Was to, Was due to, Was supposed to
- 6. Comparison Table: Was going to vs Would vs Was about to
- 7. Common Mistakes
- 8. Frequently Asked Questions
📌 1. What is Future in the Past?
Future in the past is a grammatical structure used to talk about a future event from a past perspective. In other words, we look back from a point in the past and talk about something that was still in the future at that time.
💡 Imagine it’s 2010. You say: “I will become a doctor.”
Now, looking back from 2025: “In 2010, I decided that I would become a doctor.”
Or: “In 2010, I was going to become a doctor, but I changed my mind.”
Now, looking back from 2025: “In 2010, I decided that I would become a doctor.”
Or: “In 2010, I was going to become a doctor, but I changed my mind.”
💡 Future in the past is common in narratives, reported speech, and expressing regrets about unfulfilled plans.
🎯 2. Was/Were Going To (Intention / Prediction)
Structure: was/were + going to + base verb
Past intention (often unfulfilled):
I was going to call you, but I forgot.
She was going to study medicine, but she became a teacher.
They were going to buy a house, but they couldn’t afford it.
Past prediction (based on evidence):
It was going to rain, but the clouds cleared.
The car was going to break down any minute.
I was going to call you, but I forgot.
She was going to study medicine, but she became a teacher.
They were going to buy a house, but they couldn’t afford it.
Past prediction (based on evidence):
It was going to rain, but the clouds cleared.
The car was going to break down any minute.
🎯 3. Would (Past Future / Habitual Actions)
Structure: would + base verb
Future from past perspective (often in reported speech):
He said he would arrive at 5 PM.
She promised she would never lie again.
They knew they would succeed.
Past habits (repeated actions):
Every summer, we would go to the beach.
When I was young, I would play outside for hours.
He said he would arrive at 5 PM.
She promised she would never lie again.
They knew they would succeed.
Past habits (repeated actions):
Every summer, we would go to the beach.
When I was young, I would play outside for hours.
💡 ‘Would’ for past habits is similar to ‘used to’, but ‘used to’ can also describe past states (e.g., ‘I used to have a car’ – ‘would’ cannot be used with states).
🎯 4. Was/Were About To (Immediate Future)
Structure: was/were + about to + base verb
I was about to leave when the phone rang.
She was about to fall asleep when the alarm went off.
They were about to give up when they found the solution.
The movie was about to start, so we hurried inside.
She was about to fall asleep when the alarm went off.
They were about to give up when they found the solution.
The movie was about to start, so we hurried inside.
📘 5. Other Forms: Was to, Was due to, Was supposed to
Was/Were to + verb (formal, planned future):
The president was to visit Paris, but the trip was cancelled.
Was/Were due to (scheduled):
The flight was due to arrive at 6 PM, but it was delayed.
Was/Were supposed to (expected, but often didn’t happen):
I was supposed to meet her at the station, but I got lost.
The president was to visit Paris, but the trip was cancelled.
Was/Were due to (scheduled):
The flight was due to arrive at 6 PM, but it was delayed.
Was/Were supposed to (expected, but often didn’t happen):
I was supposed to meet her at the station, but I got lost.
📊 6. Comparison Table: Was going to vs Would vs Was about to
| Form | Primary Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| was/were going to | Intention / prediction (often unfulfilled) | I was going to study, but I watched TV. |
| would | Future from past / habitual action | He said he would come. / We would play every day. |
| was/were about to | Immediate future (interrupted) | I was about to eat when the doorbell rang. |
| was/were to | Formal planned future | The meeting was to start at 10. |
| was/were supposed to | Expected (often unfulfilled) | She was supposed to call me. |