📝 Created by: El Arby Ameur | 📅 August 2026 | 🌐 lesson.tn
📖 Future in the Past Rules: Was going to vs Would vs Was about to
Rule 1: Was/Were going to + verb
Use for past intentions or predictions that may not have happened. Form: was/were + going to + base verb. Example: "I was going to buy a car, but I changed my mind."
Rule 2: Would + verb
Use for future from past perspective (reported speech) or past habits. Form: would + base verb. Example: "He promised he would call." / "When I was a child, I would visit my grandmother every Sunday."
Rule 3: Was/Were about to + verb
Use for immediate future in the past – something that was very close to happening. Form: was/were + about to + base verb. Example: "I was about to fall asleep when the phone rang."
Rule 4: Negative forms
wasn't/weren't going to, wouldn't, wasn't/weren't about to. Example: "She wasn't going to accept the job." / "He wouldn't listen to me."
💡 Remember: 'Would' for past habits cannot be used with state verbs (like, know, have). Use 'used to' instead: "I used to have a dog" (not 'would have').