The Future in the Past

The tense is used to denote an action, taking place later than some other past action.

Example: Nick was sure that Frank would come to the meeting in time and they would spend good time together.

Thus, would/wouldn’t is the past of will/won’t

Present	Past
Tom: I’ll phone you on Sunday.	Tom said he would phone me on Sunday.
Ann: I promise I won’t be late	Ann promised that she would not be late.
Liz: I will get wet through because of the rain	Liz was angry because she would get wet through because of the rain.

The Forms of the Future in the Past

affirmative	Sub would V	Val planned that she would read a book for pleasure that evening.
negative	Sub would V (Sub wouldn’t been V)	Val planned that she wouldn’t read any documents that evening.
interrogative	Would Sub V?	Would Val read a book for pleasure that evening? Yes, she would. No, she wouldn’t.

Exercise 1. Make up negative variants of the sentences:

Model: He promised that he would explain to me everything.

He promised that he would not explain to me anything.

1. Tom was sure that he would recognize Garry at the station.

2. I thought Serge would give me a chance to look through his notes before the exam.

3. Mother understood that Rachael would cook the delicious dish herself

4. It was decided that they would finish the report soon.

5. The children promised that they would go to bed soon.

6. The engineer was sure that the new apartment would be considerably cheap.

7. Mary hoped that her mother would help her to choose a wedding dress.

8. Emma learnt that her brother would take his entrance examination soon.

9. Father did not know that his son would refuse to take part in karate competition.

Exercise 2. Read the statements and explain the situation, using the prompts, given in the brackets.

Model: Harold did not want to take an umbrella with him. (to keep fine) – Harold did not want to take an umbrella with him, as he was sure that the weather would keep fine until Monday.

1. Mark decided not to do his home task, till his older brother came (to give him a helping hand).

2. Herbert didn’t want to furnish his flat alone, he thought that his wife (to decorate/ good taste)

3. Elliot and Doris realized that all their relatives (to be happy/ to arrange a wedding party).

4. Joe didn’t want to tell his mother about his failure, as he knew (to bring sb to nervous breakdown).

5. Stanley had been working very hard the whole year and still he was afraid (to get a bad mark)

6. Mother woke Freddy up rather early, because she was terrified that (to miss the first train/ to lose much time).

7. The Fosters were known as very accurate people that were why the hostess was sure that (to come in time).

8. Katherine didn’t want to buy the costume as she was sure that (to gain weight).

Exercise 3. Use the verbs given in brackets in the Future Indefinite or the Future in the Past.

1. She thinks they (to spend) their vacations brilliantly.

2. Frances thought they (to spend) much time at the restaurant, as the prices were too high.

3. Billy idled away his time and thought that he (to learn) everything during the last night before the exam.

4. Danny feels that it (to be impossible) to memorize all the material during one day.

5. Henry promised his mother that he (to get down to work) more seriously than ever.

6. Nobody believes that Raymond (to work) at his English tooth and nail in future.

7. Vanessa realized that she (to spoil) the whole party if she failed to cook the dish for the main course.