Future –in –the Past

Like  Future Simple, Future-in-the Past has two different forms in English: "would" and "was going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two different meanings.

Would, should + V

I knew you would help him.

I knew you would not help him.

USE

Future in the Past is used:

• To express the idea that in the past you thought something would happen in the future.

• Future in the Past follows the same basic rules as the  Future Simple. Would is used to volunteer or promise and can be used to make predictions about the future.

I knew Julie would make dinner. 

He promised he would send a postcard from Egypt. 

• Remember: No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, Future in the Past cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of using Future in the Past, you must use Past Simple.

I already told Mark that when he arrived, we would go out for dinner. 

The complex sentence

Independent Clause + Subordinate Clause (s) = Complex sentence.

• Sentences can start with either the main clause or the subordinate clause. If the subordinate clause comes first, you must add a comma. If the main clause is first, you don’t need a comma.

Nathan ate pancakes while he read the newspaper.

Whenever he sees a pretty sunset, Nathan wants to visit the beach.

• Independent clauses are the group of words that contain a subject and a predicate and they can stand alone as complete thoughts.

I ate seventeen pancakes.

• Subordinate clause is the group of words that contain a subject but can’t stand alone complete thought.

Because I was hungry

• Subordinate clauses come together to function as one part of speech.

Because I was hungry, I ate seventeen pancakes.

• The analysis of Complex sentences is the analysis of the clauses in those sentences.  There three types of clauses:

• Adjective clauses are a type of Subordinate clauses that act as adjective.

This is the house that Jack built.

• Adverb clauses are a type of Subordinate clauses that act as adverb.

I washed the dishes after ate breakfast.

• Noun clauses are a type of Subordinate clauses that act as noun.

Whatever you want is fine with me.

• Complex Sentence is the sentence which has two or more subordinate clauses besides the main clause. 

Complex Sentences, containing two subordinate clauses:

Whenever he heard the question, the old man who lived in the house answered that. a. The old man…..answered. (Main Clause)  b. Whenever he heard. (Subordinate Clause)  c. Who lived in that house? (Subordinate Clause)  Complex Sentences, containing three subordinate clauses: 

Whenever he heard the question, the old man who lived in that house, answered that the earth is flat.  a. The old man…..answered. (Main Clause)  b. Whenever he heard. (Subordinate Clause)  c. Who lived in that house? (Subordinate Clause)  d. That the earth is flat. (Subordinate Clause) 

Complex Sentences, containing four subordinate clauses:  I knew a man, who believed that, if a man were permitted to make the ballads, he need not care who made the laws of the nation.  a. I knew a man. (Main Clause)  b. Who believed …(Adjective Clause)  c. That he need not care. (Noun Clause)  d. Who made the laws of the nation? (Noun Clause)  e. If a man is admitted to make the ballads. (Adverb Clause) 

Exercise1.  Determine the independent clause in each sentence. Translate them.

1. Although we know the benefits of exercise, most of us don't know that a brisk after-dinner stroll can help with digestion.

2. People need to be able to share their fears, frustrations, and joys, so it's important for us to develop a network of people we can share our feelings with.

3. Whereas learning about nutrition is not difficult, having the discipline to make wise food choices is often a problem.

4. Even though you can't always control your time, it will help you to set priorities and make a daily To Do list.

5. Unless you are willing to let others control your time, you must learn to politely say no to other people's requests.

6. Change your negative inner dialogue whenever you realize you are being too hard on yourself.

7. So that you feel less stress and enjoy life more, develop your sense of humor.

8. Sit down with a piece of paper and create a plan for solving the problem when you find yourself worrying over one.

9. While there are many relaxation techniques, sitting quietly with your eyes closed and taking a few deep breaths will quickly calm you.

10. Cultivate a positive attitude, because it enables you to enjoy life more.

Exercise 2. The following sentences are made up of two independent clauses with one or more dependent clauses. Identify the clauses telling what kind each is. The choices are independent clause, noun clause, adjective clause or adverb clause.

1. John went to school, but James remained at home because he had a sore throat.

2. If he changes his mind, we shall know for sure that Joe has learned his lesson, but only time will tell.

3. Those clouds promise rain; we should hurry before we get caught in a flash flood.

4. Here is the money that I owe you, and I am happy to be free of debt.

5. Were you ever in a storm that was full of lightning, or don't you recall?

Exercise 3. Combine each of the following sets of simple sentences into one complex sentence.

1. The strike was going to be called off. The leader told me that.

2. We can succeed only by combined effort. It goes without saying.

3. He may become a member. I don’t know.

4. He is not educated. He is well experienced.

5. I sank into the water. I felt great confusion of thought. I cannot describe it.

6. I went there. I found the door locked.

7. There is heavy rainfall here. Grapes will not grow in such places.

Exercise 4. Use subordinating conjunctions (though, if, when, because, etc.) to connect the sentences into one complex sentence.

1. Henry needs to learn English. I will teach him.

2. It was raining outside. We went for a walk.

3. Jenny needs to ask me. I will buy it for her.

4. Yvonne played golf extremely well. She was very young.

5. Franklin wants to get a new job. He is preparing for job interviews.

6. I'm writing a letter, and I'm leaving. You will find it tomorrow.

7. Marvin thinks he will buy the house. He just wants to know what his wife thinks.

8. Cindy and David had breakfast. They left for work.

9. I really enjoyed the concert. The music was too loud.

10. Alexander has been working sixty hours a week. There is an important presentation next week.

11. I usually work out at the gym early in the morning. I leave for work at 8 a.m.

12. The car was extremely expensive. Bob didn't have much money. He bought the car.

13. Dean sometimes goes to the cinema. He enjoys going with his friend Doug. Doug visits once a month.

14. I prefer to watch TV by streaming over the internet. It allows me to watch what I want when I want.

15. Sometimes it happens that we have a lot of rain. I put the chairs on the patio in the garage when we have rain.

Exercise 5. Enter a suitable verb from the box into each gap, choosing the correct future form for the function and then converting it into a past form.

become   ·   meet   ·   stay   ·   leave   ·   travel   ·   serve   ·   finish

	At the age of eight, I decided I … a pilot when I grew up.
	We knew she ….. for ten hours by the time she arrived at our house later that night, so she was probably going to be very tired.
	3) According to his ticket, the flight …. at 06.00, so he still had plenty of time.
	He left home early as he …. his cousin off the flight from London.
	He suggested that, as we ….. lunch by 2pm, he would order the taxi for 2.30.
	We were going for a picnic and hoped the weather ….. sunny.
	At breakfast, we were told that they ….. lunch at 1pm, as usual.

Exercise 6. Fill in the blanks using appropriate verb forms. Observe the rule of the sequence of tenses.

1. I found that my son ………………(be)…… awake.

2. The pickpocket confessed that he …………………………. (pick) my pocket.

3. He was so tired that he …………………(can) scarcely stand.

4. He said that I ……………………(be)a lazy good-for-nothing boy.

5. No one could explain how the prisoner …………………(escape) from the prison.

6. Euclid proved that the three angles of a triangle …………(be)equal to two right angles.

7. Italy went to war that she ……………………….. ( may extend) her empire.

8. The passage is so difficult that I …………………(can) not comprehend it.

9. The boy was so indolent that he ………………(do) not pass.

10. In my perplexity I requested my guide to tell me what I …………(have) to do.

Exercise 7. A sentence has been given in direct speech. Out of the four alternatives, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in indirect speech.

1. Rahul asked me, ‘Did you see the cricket match on TV last night?’

a) Rahul asked me if I had seen the cricket match on TV the previous night.

b) Rahul asked me if I saw the cricket match on TV the previous night.

c) Rahul asked me did I see the cricket match on TV last night.

d) Rahul asked me whether I had seen the cricket match on TV last night.

2. James said to his mother, ‘I am leaving for New York tomorrow.’

a) James told his mother that he was leaving for New York tomorrow.

b) James told his mother he is leaving for New York tomorrow.

c) James told his mother that he was leaving for New York the next day.

d) James told his mother he would be leaving for New York the next day.

3. I said to him, ‘Why don’t you work hard?’

a) I asked him why didn’t you work hard.

b) I asked him why he didn’t work hard.

c) I asked him why he wouldn’t work hard.

d) I asked him why he wasn’t working hard.

4. He said to her, ‘What a hot day!’

a) He exclaimed sorrowfully that it was hot day.

b) He told her that it was a hot day.

c) He exclaimed that it was a hot day.

d) He said that it was a hot day.

5. The priest said, ‘Be quiet and listen to my words.’

a) The priest said them to be quiet and listen to his words.

b) The priest told them that they should be quiet and listen to his words.

c) The priest urged them to be quiet and to listen to his words.

d) The priest said they should be quiet and listen to him.

Exercise 8. Complete the sentences in reported speech.

1. He said, "I like this song."

2. "Where is your sister?" she asked me.

3. "I don't speak Italian," she said.

4. "Say hello to Jim," they said.

5. "The film began at seven o'clock," he said.

6. "Don't play on the grass, boys," she said.

7. "Where have you spent your money?" she asked him.

8. "I never make mistakes," he said.

9. "Does she know Robert?" he wanted to know.

10. "Don't try this at home," the stuntman told the audience.

Exercise 9. Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns in some sentences.

11. She said, "Go upstairs."

12. "Close the door behind you," he told me.

13. "Don't be late," he advised us.

14. "Stop staring at me," she said.

15. "Don't be angry with me," he said.

16. "Leave me alone," she said.

17. "Don't drink and drive," she warned us.

18. "John, stop smoking," she said.

19. "Don't worry about us," they said.

20. "Meet me at the cinema." he said.

Exercise10. Fill in the gaps with the introductory verbs in the list in the correct form.