Future in the Past

FUTURE IN THE PAST

We use the Future in the Past when we look back at a past moment and talk about the future relative to that moment.

• It expresses past plans

• It expresses unfulfilled intentions

• It expresses predictions made in the past

WAS/WERE GOING TO

WAS/WERE + GOING TO + VERB

• Plans or intentions in the past: I was going to study medicine.

• Predictions based on evidence: It looked like it was going to rain.

• Things that didn't happen: They were going to buy a house, but they changed their minds.

WOULD

Subject + would + base verb

• Reported speech: She said she would help me.

• Predictions: I knew it would be difficult.

• Promises: He promised he would help me.

Was/Were Going To vs. Would

• Used for reported speech and predictions

• More formal

• Doesn't necessarily imply the action didn't happen

Would

• Emphasizes intentions and plans

• Often implies the action didn't happen

• More informal and conversational

Was/Were Going To

Multiple Choice

He said he ___ join the meeting later.

---

• would

• was going to

Multiple Choice

We ___ start the deployment, but the client delayed approval.

• would

• were going to

Multiple Choice

They promised they ___ send the files by noon.

• would

• were going to

Multiple Choice

I thought the new update ___ fix the issue.

• would

• was going to

Multiple Choice

She ___ call the customer, but her phone battery died.

• would

• was going to

Multiple Choice

I knew the team ___ need more time to finish.

• would

• was going to

Multiple Choice

He told us he ___ work from home that day.

• would

• was going to

Multiple Choice

We ___ install the new software, but the server crashed.

• would

• were going to

Multiple Choice

They said they ___ let us know once they had more information.

• would

• were going to

Multiple Choice

I thought she ___ like the new design.

• would

• was going to

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below.
Use was/were going to or would