You've saved 3 cards. Log in so they don't get lost. You've explored 10 words. Log in to keep your cards and progress.

Log in

← Grammar reference

FUTURE

Future in the Past

Future in the past is a future seen from a moment in the past: she said she would call, I was about to leave. For plans that did not happen, see was going to in Going to.

Майбутнє в минулому — це майбутнє, яке видно з моменту в минулому: she said she would call, I was about to leave. Про плани, які не здійснилися, див. was going to у темі Going to.

Future in the past
+She said she would call · I was about to leave
−She said she wouldn't call · I wasn't about to leave
?Was she about to leave?

would + base verb · was / were about to + base verb · was / were on the point of + -ing · was / were due to + base verb

B1

Would: the future seen from the past

New

Use would + base verb for something that was still in the future at a point in the past. It often follows a verb like said, knew or thought. Вживайте would + базова форма для того, що в певний момент минулого ще було в майбутньому. Часто після said, knew, thought.

subject+ said / knew / thought+ subject+ would+ base verb

  • She said she would call me later. Вона сказала, що зателефонує мені пізніше.
  • I knew he would be late again. Я знав, що він знову спізниться.
  • She said she will call me later.
  • She said she would call me later.

Типова помилка: В українській після «сказала, що» майбутній час лишається майбутнім («зателефонує»). В англійській після минулого дієслова will змінюється на would.

Quick Check

1/4

Choose the form

He promised he   help us.

B2

Was about to: just before something happened

New

Use was / were about to + base verb for something that was going to happen very soon at a point in the past. Often it is interrupted by when. Вживайте was / were about to + базова форма для дії, яка мала відбутися дуже скоро в певний момент минулого. Часто її перериває when.

subject+ was / were about to+ base verb+ when …

  • I was about to leave when the phone rang. Я саме збирався йти, коли задзвонив телефон.
  • They were about to start the match. Вони саме збиралися почати матч.
  • I was about leave when she came.
  • I was about to leave when she came.

Типова помилка: Українське «саме збирався» передає was about to. Не забувайте to: was about to leave.

Quick Check

1/4

Put in order

Tap the words in the order of the sentence.

 

B2

Was on the point of + -ing

New

Use was / were on the point of + -ing for something that was expected to happen very soon. It is more formal than was about to. Вживайте was / were on the point of + дієслово з -ing для дії, яка мала відбутися дуже скоро. Це формальніше, ніж was about to.

subject+ was / were on the point of+ verb + -ing

  • She was on the point of leaving when he arrived. Вона вже збиралася йти, коли він прийшов.
  • We were on the point of giving up. Ми були на межі того, щоб здатися.
  • She was on the point of leave.
  • She was on the point of leaving.

Типова помилка: Після прийменника of дієслово завжди має -ing, тоді як після about to — базова форма.

Quick Check

1/4

Type the answer

I was on the point of when the bus came.

C2

Was due to: a planned time in the past

New

Use was / were due to + base verb for something that was scheduled or expected at a point in the past. It does not say whether it happened. Вживайте was / were due to + базова форма для того, що було заплановане або очікувалося в певний момент минулого. Це не каже, чи воно справді сталося.

subject+ was / were due to+ base verb+ time

  • The train was due to arrive at six. Поїзд мав прибути о шостій.
  • The baby was due to be born in May. Дитина мала народитися в травні.
  • The train was due arrive at six.
  • The train was due to arrive at six.

Типова помилка: Українське «мав прибути» — це was due to arrive. Не пропускайте to.

Quick Check

1/4

Type the answer

The flight was due to at noon.