Back to the Future

As you know, when talking about future actions or plans, we use will and be going to. But we also talk about the future in the past. I know what you’re thinking. The future in the past; that’s a contradiction! Actually, it’s quite common!

For example, some time in the past, you said:

A) I will help you with your homework.

A) I am going to work late tonight.

Later, when someone reminds you about what you said, they would say:

B) You said you would help me with my homework.

B) He said he was going to work late tonight.

This is a form of reported speech. Will becomes would, am / is / are going to become was / were going to. Here, we use would and was / were going to in order to say what you thought  would or was going to happen in the future, whether the action really happened or not. As you know, we use will to make predictions (1) and to make promises or spontaneous decisions talk about plans (2) and be going to for future plans (3) and obvious predictions (4). For example:

1) A) We will get lost.                           

    B) She had a feeling they would get lost.

2) A) I will call you as soon as I arrive.   

    B) You promised you would call as soon as you arrived.

3) A) I am going to leave the company.  

    B) I had no idea that you were going to leave the company.

4) A) She is going to arrive late.            

    B) I knew she was going to arrive late.

Now that you understand how to talk about the future in the past, be careful what you promise!