4D Grammar

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 4

4D Grammar

Future in the past

We use the future in the past to talk about future events from a point of view in the past

Future in the past

I went to a cafe yesterday. I was about to buy a coffee when I realized that I had left my wallet at home.

Exercise 5

1. "...a tale that would become the most recognized horror story in the world."

2. " At the time of writing, the story was a powerful warning against scientific advances and the Industrial Revolution, which was about to spread across Europe."

3. Many artists and writers were concerned about this industrialization and the effect it would have one a man's relationship with nature.

4. After a while, Byron suggested they write their own and Mary decided she was going to write about her nightmare.

Which sentences are examples of:

A) a future plan or intention (1 sentence)

B) an event that is in the very distant future or would last a long time (2 sentences)

C) an event that is in the very near future (1 sentence)

Note: Future in the past

If, during the past, we were thinking about the future or making plans for the future, we use future in the past to express this. We use different forms depending on whether we are describing intentions, plans, possibilities, predictions or events that actually took place at a later time.

would

We use 'would'

• to talk about general future possibilities, predictions, or expectations, but NOT definite plans. 
• We use 'would' especially when the future event was in the very distant future or lasted  a long time

The discovery of antibiotics in 1929 would revolutionize medical care in the 20th century

Some of my friends believed the world would end in the year 2000.

was/were going to

We use 'was/were going to' to:

• to talk about plans or intentions

She was going to finish her homeowork, but then she decided to go out instead.

• to make a prediction

Some of my friends believed the world was going to end in the year 2000.

was/were to

We use 'was/were to':

• to talk about events that took place. (We can also use 'would' to convey the same meaning)

He was to become a world-famous physicist by the time he was twenty-five.

He would become a world-famous physicist by the time he was twenty-five.

was/were about to

We use 'was/were about to':

• to talk about an event that was in the very near future or events that took place immediately after another event.

The war was over and the victory celebrations were about to begin.

• with a 'when' time clause to describe an interrupted event

The doctors were about to perform the operation when they realized that the patient was still awake.

1. You're back early. I thought you ________ play tennis with Jack this evening! That was your plan, wasn't it?

1. were about to
2. were going to

2. Wendy came round to my house just as I __________ go out. I had already put my coat on.

1. would
2. was about to

3. I used to believe that life in the neighbourhood ___________ improve one day. I no longer believe that.

1. was to
2. would

4. The drummer left the band just as they ____________ go on tour.

1. were about to
2. would

5. Simon was shy at school. I had no idea that one day he ___________ become a famous film star.

1. was about to
2. was going to

Today

• 4D - Do exercise 6 on p. 49