01a future prediction or promise viewed from a past reporting point
Use would + base verb to express a future prediction or promise viewed from a past reporting point.
She promised that she would repay the money the following month.B2
Future in the past Exercises
About this lesson
Future in the past · B2. Use would + base verb to express a future prediction or promise viewed from a past reporting point.
Complete 12 original tasks. Use the situation to choose the intended meaning, practise the form, then apply it in a fresh context.
12 items
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Knowledge map
Start practisingFuture in the past
02a past intention or prediction that may or may not have been fulfilled
Use was/were going to + base verb to express a past intention or prediction that may or may not have been fulfilled.
I was going to study architecture, but I chose engineering instead.03an action imminent at a past moment, often interrupted before it began
Use was/were about to + base verb to express an action imminent at a past moment, often interrupted before it began.
We were about to leave when the fire alarm rang.Illustrated guide
01 / 12D01Save it to find it in My collection.
The promise was made last year about a later event.
She promised that she ___ the money the following month.
Your learning route
01
Step 1 · Warm-up
0/3Warm-up
02
Step 2 · Build the skill
0/2a future prediction or promise viewed from a past reporting point
Use would + base verb to express a future prediction or promise viewed from a past reporting point.
She promised that she would repay the money the following month.03
Step 3 · Build the skill
0/1a past intention or prediction that may or may not have been fulfilled
Use was/were going to + base verb to express a past intention or prediction that may or may not have been fulfilled.
I was going to study architecture, but I chose engineering instead.04
Step 4 · Build the skill
0/1an action imminent at a past moment, often interrupted before it began
Use was/were about to + base verb to express an action imminent at a past moment, often interrupted before it began.
We were about to leave when the fire alarm rang.05
Step 5 · New contexts
0/3New contexts
06
Step 6 · A fresh challenge
0/2A fresh challenge
Practice notes in this unit
0Make mistakes useful.
Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
Lesson map
B2Future in the past
Lesson points
a future prediction or promise viewed from a past reporting point
Use would + base verb to express a future prediction or promise viewed from a past reporting point.
She promised that she would repay the money the following month.a past intention or prediction that may or may not have been fulfilled
Use was/were going to + base verb to express a past intention or prediction that may or may not have been fulfilled.
I was going to study architecture, but I chose engineering instead.an action imminent at a past moment, often interrupted before it began
Use was/were about to + base verb to express an action imminent at a past moment, often interrupted before it began.
We were about to leave when the fire alarm rang.Questions & answers
Opening an answer records help for that question.
The promise was made last year about a later event.
She promised that she ___ the money the following month.
- has repaid
- would repay
- will repay
- had repaid
Answer & explanation
would repay
The deciding clue is “The promise was made last year about a later event.”. Use would + base verb to express a future prediction or promise viewed from a past reporting point. In this task, the completed sentence is “She promised that she would repay the money the following month.”.
Describe an abandoned past intention.
I ___ study architecture, but I chose engineering instead.
- was gone to
- am going to
- was going to
- have gone to
Answer & explanation
was going to
The deciding clue is “Describe an abandoned past intention.”. Use was/were going to + base verb to express a past intention or prediction that may or may not have been fulfilled. In this task, the completed sentence is “I was going to study architecture, but I chose engineering instead.”.
The action was imminent when an interruption occurred.
We were about ___ when the fire alarm rang.
- leaving
- leave
- to leaving
- to leave
Answer & explanation
to leave
The deciding clue is “The action was imminent when an interruption occurred.”. Use was/were about to + base verb to express an action imminent at a past moment, often interrupted before it began. In this task, the completed sentence is “We were about to leave when the fire alarm rang.”.
A past prediction looked forward from the meeting date.
At that meeting, nobody knew how much the city ___ change.
- had
- will
- has
- would
Answer & explanation
would
The deciding clue is “A past prediction looked forward from the meeting date.”. Use would + base verb to express a future prediction or promise viewed from a past reporting point. In this task, the completed sentence is “At that meeting, nobody knew how much the city would change.”.
Use the past going-to construction with call for an intention interrupted by losing the phone.
I ___ you, but then I lost my phone.
Answer & explanation
was going to call
Complete sentence: “I was going to call you, but then I lost my phone.” Use was/were going to + base verb to express a past intention or prediction that may or may not have been fulfilled. The subject, time and meaning in the task determine this form. Only reviewed responses are matched automatically; other wording is not automatically wrong.
The event was seconds away at a past moment.
The train was about ___ when we reached the platform.
- departing
- to depart
- to departing
- depart
Answer & explanation
to depart
The deciding clue is “The event was seconds away at a past moment.”. Use was/were about to + base verb to express an action imminent at a past moment, often interrupted before it began. In this task, the completed sentence is “The train was about to depart when we reached the platform.”.
Use a would-clause with become for a future prediction viewed from 2010.
In 2010, few predicted that this service ___ so widespread.
Answer & explanation
would become
Complete sentence: “In 2010, few predicted that this service would become so widespread.” Use would + base verb to express a future prediction or promise viewed from a past reporting point. The subject, time and meaning in the task determine this form. Only reviewed responses are matched automatically; other wording is not automatically wrong.
The report made a prediction about the following year.
The report forecast that demand ___ the following year.
- had risen
- has risen
- would rise
- will rise
Answer & explanation
would rise
The deciding clue is “The report made a prediction about the following year.”. Use would + base verb to express a future prediction or promise viewed from a past reporting point. In this task, the completed sentence is “The report forecast that demand would rise the following year.”.
Use the past going-to construction with move for the plan they held then before changing their minds.
They ___ abroad, but changed their minds.
Answer & explanation
were going to move
Complete sentence: “They were going to move abroad, but changed their minds.” Use was/were going to + base verb to express a past intention or prediction that may or may not have been fulfilled. The subject, time and meaning in the task determine this form. Only reviewed responses are matched automatically; other wording is not automatically wrong.
An immediate past intention is expressed with about to.
She was about ___ the button when the warning appeared.
- to pressing
- pressing
- to press
- press
Answer & explanation
to press
The deciding clue is “An immediate past intention is expressed with about to.”. Use was/were about to + base verb to express an action imminent at a past moment, often interrupted before it began. In this task, the completed sentence is “She was about to press the button when the warning appeared.”.
The context describes a past plan, whose fulfilment is not stated.
At the time, the company ___ open a branch overseas.
- was going to
- is going to
- has gone to
- was gone to
Answer & explanation
was going to
The deciding clue is “The context describes a past plan, whose fulfilment is not stated.”. Use was/were going to + base verb to express a past intention or prediction that may or may not have been fulfilled. In this task, the completed sentence is “At the time, the company was going to open a branch overseas.”.
Supply the infinitive of speak after was about for an action imminent then.
He was about ___ when the chair interrupted.
Answer & explanation
to speak
Complete sentence: “He was about to speak when the chair interrupted.” Use was/were about to + base verb to express an action imminent at a past moment, often interrupted before it began. The subject, time and meaning in the task determine this form. Only reviewed responses are matched automatically; other wording is not automatically wrong.