The English language never ceases to amaze! For literally any situation, the English have their own set of lexical and grammatical rules, and in any of the three basic tenses, as is known, there are branches: if we take, for example, the Future tense, then in parallel with it there is also a mysterious Future in the Past.

What is Future in the Past

Future in the past(future in the past) is a special line of forms of English tense, when we talk about actions that will occur in the future tense, but were mentioned and talked about at the time of the past.

In most cases, the future in the past is used in indirect speech (reported speech), when someone did something, said something, etc.

Future in the Past education rule

All the tense forms that we commonly use in ordinary Future tenses (Future Simple, Future Continuous, Future Perfect, Future Perfect Continuous) in English remain the same, but with one exception - instead of the usual auxiliary " will" or " shall", the future past will be " would».

Pay attention to the formulas shown in the table below.

Future tense in the past in English

Future Simple in the Past (Simple future in the past)	I / You / It / He / She / We / They +WOULD+VERB WITHOUT TO
Future Continuous in the Past (Continuous future in the past)	I / You / It / He / She / We / They +WOULD+BE+VERB
Future Perfect in the Past (Complete future in the past)	I / You / It / He / She / We / They +WOULD+HAVE+VERB WITHOUT TO, BUT WITH ENDING -ED / III FORM
Future Perfect Continuous in the Past (Complete-continuous in the past)	I / You / It / He / She / We / They +WOULD+HAVE BEEN+VERB WITHOUT TO, BUT WITH THE ENDING -ING

Future Simple in the Past: Active vs. Passive

Let's start with the fact that the Future Simple in the Past has an active voice (Active Voice) and a passive voice (Passive Voice).

To build the latter we need:

subject + « be» + verb With "- ed" at the end if it is regular, or the 3rd form of the verb if it is irregular.

To better understand how to build a passive in practice, let's look at the examples below:

Jane told Daniel that she would visit all countries located in Asia someday ( Active).
Jane told Daniel that all countries located in Asia would be visited by her someday ( Passive).
Jane told Daniel that she would one day visit every country in Asia.

Affirmation, negation and question in the Future Simple in the Past

Affirmative sentence (Affirmative sentence)	Negative sentence (Negative sentence)	Interrogative sentence (Interrogative sentence)
I + WOULD + CELEBRATE	I + WOULD NOT + CELEBRATE	WOULD + I + CELEBRATE?
You + WOULD + CELEBRATE	You + WOULD NOT + CELEBRATE	WOULD + YOU + CELEBRATE?
She + WOULD + CELEBRATE He + WOULD + CELEBRATE It + WOULD + CELEBRATE	She + WOULD NOT + CELEBRATE He + WOULD NOT + CELEBRATE It + WOULD NOT + CELEBRATE	WOULD + She + CELEBRATE? WOULD + He + CELEBRATE? WOULD + It + CELEBRATE?
We + WOULD + CELEBRATE	We + WOULD NOT + CELEBRATE	WOULD + We + CELEBRATE?
You + WOULD + CELEBRATE	You + WOULD NOT + CELEBRATE	WOULD + YOU + CELEBRATE?
They + WOULD + CELEBRATE	They + WOULD NOT + CELEBRATE	WOULD + They + CELEBRATE?

*celebrate - celebrate

Future Continuous in the Past: Active vs. Passive

It is important to remember that the long future in the past has only one form, which is used exclusively in the active voice.

If it is vital to use the passive voice in a sentence, then you can use Future Simple in the Past(Passive).

However, it is worth remembering that the passive is not always necessary, since the sentence may look overloaded.

Abigail said that her husband would be lecturing his employees at that moment the following day ( Active).
Abigail said that her husband's employees would be lectured by him at that moment the following day ( Passive).
Abigail said that her husband would be telling off his subordinates at this point tomorrow.

Affirmation, negation and question in the Future Continuous in the Past

Affirmative sentence (Affirmative sentence)	Negative sentence (Negative sentence)	Interrogative sentence (Interrogative sentence)
I + WOULD + BE SHAKING	I + WOULD NOT + BE SHAKING	WOULD + I + BE SHAKING?
You + WOULD + BE SHAKING	You + WOULD NOT + BE SHAKING	WOULD + YOU + BE SHAKING?
She + WOULD + BE SHAKING He + WOULD + BE SHAKING It + WOULD + BE SHAKING	She + WOULD NOT + BE SHAKING He + WOULD NOT + BE SHAKING It + WOULD NOT + BE SHAKING	WOULD + She + BE SHAKING? WOULD + He + BE SHAKING? WOULD + It + BE SHAKING?
We + WOULD + BE SHAKING	We + WOULD NOT + BE SHAKING	WOULD + We + BE SHAKING?
You + WOULD + BE SHAKING	You + WOULD NOT + BE SHAKING	WOULD + YOU + BE SHAKING?
They + WOULD + BE SHAKING	They + WOULD NOT + BE SHAKING	WOULD + They + BE SHAKING?

*shake = to shake

Future Perfect in the Past: Active vs. Passive

To build a passive in the completed future in the past, we need:

subject+ everyone's favorite " would" + connective in the form " have been" + semantic verb with "- ed"(correct) / 3 form (incorrect).

Rebecca confirmed that the team would have finished the presentation by the following week ( Active).
Rebecca confirmed that the presentation would have been finished by the team by the following week ( Passive).
Rebecca confirmed that the team will have the presentation completed by next week.

Affirmation, negation and question in the Future Perfect in the Past

Affirmative sentence (Affirmative sentence)	Negative sentence (Negative sentence)	Interrogative sentence (Interrogative sentence)
I + WOULD + HAVE ACHIEVED	I + WOULD NOT + HAVE ACHIEVED	WOULD + I + HAVE ACHIEVED?
You + WOULD + HAVE ACHIEVED		WOULD + YOU + HAVE ACHIEVED?
She + WOULD + HAVE ACHIEVED He + WOULD + HAVE ACHIEVED It + WOULD + HAVE ACHIEVED	She + WOULD NOT + HAVE ACHIEVED He + WOULD NOT + HAVE ACHIEVED It + WOULD NOT + HAVE ACHIEVED	WOULD + She + HAVE ACHIEVED? WOULD + He + HAVE ACHIEVED? WOULD + It + HAVE ACHIEVED?
We + WOULD + HAVE ACHIEVED	We + WOULD NOT + HAVE ACHIEVED	WOULD + We + HAVE ACHIEVED?
You + WOULD + HAVE ACHIEVED	You + WOULD NOT + HAVE ACHIEVED	WOULD + YOU + HAVE ACHIEVED?
They + WOULD + HAVE ACHIEVED	They + WOULD NOT + HAVE ACHIEVED	WOULD + They + HAVE ACHIEVED?

*achieve - to achieve

Future Perfect Continuous in the Past: Active vs. Passive

Like the usual Future Perfect Continuous, the completed-continuous future in the past has no analogue in the passive. Therefore, for the passive, you can use the Future Perfect in the Past.

My elder sister said that by 2020 she would have been teaching children at the kindergarten for seven years (Active).
My elder sister said that by 2020 children at the kindergarten would have been taught by her seven years (Passive).
My older sister said that by 2020 she will be teaching kindergarten for 7 years.

Affirmation, negation and question in the Future Perfect Continuous in the Past

Affirmative sentence (Affirmative sentence)	Negative sentence (Negative sentence)	Interrogative sentence (Interrogative sentence)
I + WOULD + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING	I + WOULD NOT + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING	WOULD + I + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING?
	You + WOULD NOT + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING
She + WOULD + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING He + WOULD + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING It + WOULD + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING	She + WOULD NOT + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING He + WOULD NOT + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING It + WOULD NOT + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING	WOULD + She + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING? WOULD + He + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING? WOULD + It + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING?
We + WOULD + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING	We +WOULD NOT+HAVE BEEN+SCROLLING	WOULD + We + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING?
You + WOULD + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING	You +WOULD NOT+HAVE BEEN+SCROLLING	WOULD + YOU + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING?
They + WOULD + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING	They +WOULD NOT+HAVE BEEN+SCROLLING	WOULD + They + HAVE BEEN + SCROLLING?

*scroll - scroll through

Conclusion

Today we talked about how the Future in the Past is formed in various English tenses: Simple, Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous, we analyzed examples and compared their use in the active and passive voice. We can assume that the tuning of language knowledge has been successfully completed.

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Thanks to the group of times Future in the Past in English you can convey a future action that was discussed in the past. The rules for using this tense are studied within the framework of the topic ““. Its essence is that if the verb of the main sentence is in the past tense (in direct speech), then the verb of the subordinate clause must also be in one of the forms of the past tense (in indirect speech). For example:

• I hoped that Jim would wait for me. “I was hoping Jim would wait for me.”

Future in the Past: usage

In English, the following tenses are distinguished: Future in the Past:

1. Future Simple in the Past

• Mary said she would come home late. — Mary said she would come home late.

2. Future Continuous in the Past

• Tom told them that he would be having a music lesson at 3 o’clock tomorrow. — Tom said that tomorrow at 3 o’clock he will have a music lesson.

3. Future Perfect in the Past

• Jerry said he would have finished the book by noon. Jerry said he would have read the book by noon.

4.Future Perfect Continuous in the Past

• Nina said she would have been writing the letter for 3 hours by the time I came. — Nina said that she would be writing a letter for three hours by the time I arrive.

The tense is quite common in speech. Future Simple in the Past, other forms are not used in practice. Usually Future in the Past is used in subordinate clauses after such verbs of conveying information, for example (say), tell (speak), hope (hope), expect (expect), etc.

Future in the Past: education

The tense forms Future in the Past are formed in the same way as the corresponding Future forms, but instead of the auxiliary verbs shall and will you must use would. In the outdated version, should was used for the first person singular and plural.

• I thought that Kate would help us. “I thought Katya would help us.”
• They knew that I should (would) come in time. “They knew I would come on time.”

During education negative sentences after the auxiliary verb you need to put a particle not.

• Harry said he would not (wouldn't) buy a new bicycle the next day. — Harry said that he won’t buy a new bike tomorrow.
• I thought I wouldn't make mistakes in this test. “I thought I wouldn’t make mistakes in this test.”

Interrogative sentences at this time only possible when using .

Future in the Past used to express a future action that is viewed from the perspective of the past. Most often, this tense is used in indirect speech, when a person is telling his thoughts or intentions about the future (which are no longer relevant), but the narration itself takes place in the past.

There are four forms Future in the Past For active voice and two forms for the passive voice.

Tense	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Future Simple in the Past	I thought you would come. I thought you would come.	I thought the glass would be broken. I thought the glass would break.
Future Continuous in the Past		--- No
Future Perfect in the Past		He knew the work would have been finished by Friday. He knew the job would be done by Friday.
Future Perfect Continuous in the Past		--- No

Future Simple in the past

I thought you would come. I thought you would come.

Future Continuous in the past

I wished we would be working next Monday. I wanted us to work next Monday.

Future Perfect in the past

I hoped we would have finished the work by Friday. I was hoping we'd be done by Friday.

Future Perfect Continuous in the past

I knew they would have been working here for 10 years next month. I knew that by next month they would have been here for 10 years.

Statement

Affirmative sentence with Future in the Past formed with an auxiliary verb would(or less often should) and the desired infinitive of the semantic verb.

• I thought I should buy that dress.– I thought I would buy that dress.
• He wrote that he would be working on Monday.– He wrote that he would work on Monday.
• She told me that the cake would be eaten soon.“She told me that the cake would be eaten soon.”

Should shall(For I, We), is considered obsolete in modern English.
Would– past tense form of an auxiliary verb will.

In modern English would used for all numbers and persons, and should practically not used, since it received a separate meaning of the modal verb should.

Auxiliary verbs should And would have the same abbreviations:

I should = I' d We should = We" d You would = You" d They would = They" d

He would = He" d She would = She" d It would = It" d

Negation

In order to form a negation in Future in the Past necessary after an auxiliary verb would(less often should) put a negative particle not.

• I knew we should not be working next Saturday.– I knew that we wouldn’t work next Saturday.
• He wrote that he would not go to New York next week.– He wrote that he would not go to New York next week.

• should not = shouldn’t (abbreviation)
• She told me that we shouldn't work here.“She told me we wouldn’t work here.”

• would not = wouldn't
• I thought it wouldn't be broken.“I thought it wouldn’t break.”

Question

General question in Future in the Past formed by transferring the auxiliary verb would(less often should) at the beginning of the sentence before the subject.

• Should I buy this dress?– Would I buy this dress?
• Would he go to New York?– Would he go to New York?
• Would that work be done soon?– Could that work be done soon?

• Matt asked whether I should buy that dress. Matt asked if I would buy that dress.
• She was interested if that work would be done soon.– She wondered whether that work would be completed soon.
• I thought when the book would be finished.– I was interested in when the book would be written.

Using Future in the Past

Complex sentences

Future in the Past used in complex sentences if the action of the main clause expresses a past action.

• I dream I would find his number.“I dreamed that I would find his number.”
• We hoped we should have been living here for 20 years next month.“We were hoping that by next month we would have lived here for 20 years.”
• He thought he would be working next Thursday. He thought he would work next Thursday.
• They said that book would have been finished by the end of this year.– They said that the book will be written by the end of this year.

Telling the future from the perspective of the past

Time Future in the Past are used if events that express future action are mentioned in a story about the past. Used in literature or in flashback stories.

• We made a deal to go to Vegas together. I would buy the tickets and John would prepare some food.“We made a deal to go to Vegas together.” I'll buy the tickets and John will cook the food.
• She decided to find a new job. And I would help her with this challenge. She decided to find a new job. And I will help her in this test.
• We are arranged to find some new house. Hanna would be searching at the newspapers and I would be calling to agencies.– We agreed to find some new house. Hannah will look in the newspapers, and I'll call the agencies.

In many textbooks, in addition to tenses, Present, Past, Future, four types of tense forms under the general name - the future in the past.

Meaning of time Future in the Past

The future tense in the past denotes an action that will happen in the future from the point of view of a moment in the past. In other words, Future in the Past is when in the past they talk about something that will happen in the future. This form is used after verbs (in the past tense):

• say- speak,
• tell- speak,
• know- know,
• believe- believe, believe,
• hope- hope.
• and etc.

All forms of the future in the past are formed in the same way as the forms of the future tense with the only difference - it is replaced by would. In writing we usually use a conjunction that(What) after the verb, in oral it is often omitted.

I knew (that) you would smile. - I knew you would smile.

I said (that) we would not regret our decision. “I said we wouldn’t regret our decision.”

In the form of the future in the past, simple (Simple) and long (Continuous) tenses are most often used.

Future Simple in the Past

Denotes an action in the future that was discussed in the past. The most common form.

In active voice:

• I said that I would be late today. – I said that I would be late today.
• She knew that sh e would come back next week. “She knew she would be back next week.”
• Max believed that we would find his friend in that town. – Max believed that we would find his friend in that city.
• Nick and Mary hoped that their family business would succeed - Nick and Mary hoped that their family business would be successful.

In passive voice:

• The travelers knew that they would be forced to return anyway. “The travelers knew that they would be forced to return in any case.

Future Continuous in the Past

A long-term action in the future perceived from the perspective of the past.

• Mike said that he would be working at that time tomorrow. Mike said that he will be working at this time tomorrow.
• I supposed that I would be sleeping at 9. – I figured that I would be sleeping at nine o’clock.
• We understood that Anna would not be assisting us. – We realized that Anna would not help us.

Future Perfect in the Past

A completed action in the future, perceived from the perspective of the past. The form is rarely used.

In active voice:

• We hoped we would have finished the project by Monday. – We hoped that we would finish the project by Monday.

In passive voice:

• We hoped that the project would have been finished by Monday. – We hoped that the project would be completed by Monday/

Future Perfect Continuous in the Past

A process that will continue in the future until some point, perceived from the point of view of the past. Practically not used even in writing.

He told us that he would have been driving that truck for 10 years next year. “He told us that next year will be 10 years since he drove this truck.

Summary table of times Future in the Past

All forms of Future in the Past
	Active voice	Passive voice
Future Simple in the Past	would + verb I said that I would go.	would be + past participle (3rd form of the verb) I said that I would be gone.
Future Continuous in the Past	would be + present participle (verb-ing) I said that I would be going.

1. I am afraid I shall be late.
2. Do you think we shall pick all the apples in three days?
3. He hopes you will often visit him.
4. They expect he will be at home in a few days.
5. Are you afraid we shan’t be in time?
6. She promises that she will finish the work in a week.
7. I think Henry will help us.
8. I hope we'll enjoy the show.
9. She expects he'll win the race.

Answers: 1. I was afraid I should be late. 2. Did you think we should pick all the apples in three days? 3. He hoped you would often visit him. 4. They expected he would be at home in a few days. 5. Were you afraid we shouldn’t be in time? 6. She promised that she would finish the work in a week. 7. I thought Henry would help us. 8. I hoped we should enjoy the show. 9. She expected he would win the race.

Exercise 2. Open the brackets using verbs in the Future Simple or Future-in-the-Past Simple.

1. I know we (not to be) late.
2. I knew we (not to be) late.
3. I want to know whether he (to be) at home.
4. I wanted to know whether he (to be) at home.
5. "When are you (to be) ready?" he asked.
6. He asked when I (to be) ready.
7. I can’t say whether Bob (to do) the work perfectly, but he (to do) his best.
8. He asked me whether he (to see) Olga there.
9. Are you sure that we (to have) time to do that?
10. I was afraid he (to say), “I don’t think I (to be) able to come.”
11. I did not know what he (to speak) about.
12. I knew your aunt (to bake) special cookies for all her nieces and nephews.

Answers: we shall not be. 2. We shouldn't be. 3. He will not be. 4. He would be. 5. When will you be. 6. I should be. 7. Bob will do, he will do. 8. He would see. 9. We shall have. 10. He would say, I shall be. 11. He would speak. 12. Your aunt would bake.

Exercise 3. Use the following sentences as additional clauses. Use the sentences given in parentheses as main clauses.

(I supposed; He believed; She was sure; We were told; I heard; She said; He understood; She imagined; The letter said.)

E.g. My brother will be sleeping.

I supposed that my brother would be sleeping.

1. He will solve the problem in no time.
2. The new film will be on in many cinemas.
3. The teacher will have corrected our papers by the beginning of the lesson.
4. She will not like this TV programme.
5. The train will arrive on time.
6. The children will be playing in the yard.
7. All the newspapers will publish this information.
8. They will win the game.
9. I shall go to the south.
10. My sister will not forget to ring me up.
11. I shall have done my homework by nine o’clock.
12. The tourists will not return by sunset.
13. My friends will be waiting for me.
14. My friend will have returned by that time.
15. They will be working the whole evening.
16. He will return this book to the library immediately.

Answers: 1. She imagined that he would solve the problem in no time. 2. I heard that the new film would be on in many cinemas. 3. We were told that the teacher would have corrected our papers by the beginning of the lesson. 4. She imagined that she would not like this TV programme. 5. He believed that the train would arrive on time. 6. She said that the children would be playing in the yard. 7. She was sure that all the newspapers would publish this information. 8. I supposed that they would win the game. 9. He believed that I should go to the south. 10. She was sure that my sister would not forget to ring me up. 11. I supposed that I should have done my work by nine o’clock. 12. We were told that the tourists would not return by sunset. 13. The letter said that my friends would be waiting for me. 14. I supposed that my friend would have returned by that time. 15. He understood that they would be working the whole evening. 16. She was sure that he would return this book to the library immediately.

Exercise 4. Translate into English, paying attention to the tense of the verb in the main sentence.

1. I know he will come soon.
2. I knew he would come soon.
3. I think she will be sleeping at this time.
4. I thought she would be sleeping at this time.
5. She thinks that she will have done all the work by five o'clock.
6. She thought that she would have done all the work by five o'clock.
7. I was sure that by ten o'clock he would have learned the poem.
8. I knew that by nine o’clock my mother would have prepared dinner and at nine o’clock the whole family would be sitting at the table. I was afraid that I would arrive too late.
9. She was afraid that her friend would not come.
10. They wrote that they would arrive soon.
11. I was sure that I would meet him at the station.
12. I think dad will write us a letter soon.
13. Did they tell you that we will be writing a test in December?
14. He realized that he would never forget her.
15. I believe they will remember us.
16. He says he knows this man.

Answers: 1. I know that he will come soon. 2. I knew that he would come soon. 3. I think that she will be sleeping at this time. 4. I thought that she would be sleeping at that time. 5. She thinks that she will have done all the work by five o’clock. 6. She thought that she would have done all the work by five o’clock. 7. I was sure that by ten o’clock he would have learned the poem. 8. I knew that by nine o’clock mother would have cooked supper and at nine o’clock the whole family would be sitting at the table. I was afraid that I should come too late. 9. She was afraid that her friend would not come. 10. They wrote that they would come soon. 11. I was sure that I should meet him at the station. 12. I think that father will soon write a letter to us. 13. Have you been told that in December we shall write a paper? 14. He understood that he would never forget her. 15. I believe that they will remember us. 16. He says he knows this man.

WELL DONE!

Literature:

1. Golitsynsky Yu.B. Grammar: Collection of exercises. - 5th ed., - St. Petersburg: KARO, 2005. - 544 p. - (English for schoolchildren).