The future in the past is how we talk about the future from a point in the past: what someone planned, expected or promised at that time. We use it for plans that didn’t happen, for reported speech, and in stories. The table lists the forms, and the exercises below let you practise them, with an explanation for each answer.
| Form | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| was / were going to | past plans and intentions, often ones that didn’t happen | I was going to call you, but I forgot. |
| would | predictions and promises seen from the past; reported speech | I knew you would like it. She said she would help. |
| was / were about to | something that was going to happen very soon | We were about to leave when the phone rang. |
| past continuous | fixed arrangements seen from the past | I was meeting Anna at 8, so I left early. |
| was to / was due to | formal plans, timetables; destiny (what happened later) | The flight was due to land at 6. He was to become president. |
Future in the past exercises
Four sets of 20 questions: start with Basics (B1) and move up to Advanced (C1), or try the At work set with office situations. Where two forms are correct, both answers are accepted. Prefer to check everything at the end? Switch to Exam mode.
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I call you last night, but I fell asleep.
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She said she help me with my homework.
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We (go) to the beach, but it started to rain.
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I my friends at 8, so I left work early.
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He promised he be late again.
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I thought it (be) a boring film, but I loved it.
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They get married in June, but they changed their minds.
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I knew you like this restaurant!
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She told me she (start) a new job the following week.
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We leave when the phone rang.
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“Why didn’t you buy the shoes?” “I , but they didn’t have my size.”
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He said he (call) me back in five minutes.
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I was sure our team win the match.
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What time you meeting Tom yesterday?
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I (tell) you about it, but I forgot.
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The plane was about off when the pilot stopped it.
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She hoped she pass the exam.
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They said the shop (open) at 10, but it was closed.
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I to ask you the same question!
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Everybody thought it snow, but it didn’t.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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I was on the point of up when I finally found the answer.
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We were to leave when the guests arrived.
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I (meet) her for lunch, but she cancelled.
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Little did I know that this small decision change my life.
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At that time, I had no idea that I end up living in Canada.
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The meeting to start at 9, but it started at 10.
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She told us she leaving the company the next month.
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I was going to phone you, but I .
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My parents were sure I (become) a doctor.
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We were just to bed when we heard a strange noise.
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It was 11 pm. The last train in five minutes.
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He said he (not / be) able to come to the party.
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I thought I have time to finish, but I didn’t.
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They had planned to stay for a week, but they after two days.
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I (buy) a ticket, but they had sold out.
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She looked as if she cry.
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The weather forecast said it rain in the afternoon.
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We (fly) to Lisbon the next day, so we went to bed early.
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I wasn’t going to anything, but I couldn’t stay quiet.
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I’m sorry. I didn’t realise it so expensive.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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It was a decision that have serious consequences.
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The young actor later become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
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The ceremony (be) held outdoors, but it was moved inside because of the rain.
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We were have married that summer, but the war broke out.
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The flight to land at 6:30, but it was delayed.
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She was on the point (accept) the offer when she got a better one.
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Nobody could have guessed that the company go bankrupt within a year.
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He to arrive by noon, but there was no sign of him.
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We were told that the train (arrive) late.
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I had a feeling that something terrible happen.
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The new law come into force on 1 January, but it was postponed.
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Had I known you (come), I would have cooked something.
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She was leaving the room when he called her name.
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This was only the beginning. Worse to come.
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The president (visit) the factory, but the visit was cancelled at the last minute.
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In 1990, nobody knew that the internet change the world.
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Ten years ago, I promised myself I learn to drive, and I finally did it last year.
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He promised that he (have) the report ready by Friday.
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We were about to give up hope the rescue team arrived.
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The two men meet again until twenty years later.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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I send you the report yesterday, but the system crashed.
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The manager said the new software be installed next week.
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We (sign) the contract when the client suddenly changed their mind.
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I the client at 3, so I couldn’t join the meeting.
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Our CEO announced that the company open three new offices.
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I thought the project (take) two weeks, but it took two months.
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The product launch to take place in May, but it was delayed.
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She was to resign when they offered her a promotion.
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He told me he (not / be) in the office on Friday.
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We were sure the presentation go well.
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I ask for a pay rise, but my boss was in a bad mood.
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The meeting (be supposed / finish) at 4, but it went on until 6.
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When I joined the company, I had no idea I stay for 15 years.
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The train to the conference at 7:15, so I had to get up at 5.
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I promised the client that we (deliver) the order by Monday.
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The interview was to start when I realised I’d left my CV at home.
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Our team leader said she talk to HR about it.
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We (launch) the campaign in March, but we postponed it.
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I until 9 that evening, so I told my family not to wait for dinner.
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Back then, nobody thought that remote work become so popular.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
Move the future back one step
Every normal future form has a “past” version. When the main verb is in the past (said, thought, knew, hoped) or you are telling a story, move the future form back:
- will → would: “I will help.” → She said she would help.
- am going to → was going to: “I’m going to quit.” → He said he was going to quit.
- am meeting → was meeting: I couldn’t stay. I was meeting a client at 3.
- am about to → was about to: She was about to say something, but stopped.
Common mistakes
- ❌ I knew you will like it. → ✅ I knew you would like it.
- ❌ I am going to call you yesterday. → ✅ I was going to call you yesterday.
- ❌ She was on the point to leave. → ✅ She was on the point of leaving.
FAQ
Is “future in the past” a tense?
Not exactly. It’s a name for a group of forms (would, was going to, was about to, was to and the past continuous) that all describe the future as it looked from a moment in the past.
What level are these exercises?
There are four sets: Basics (B1), Intermediate (B2), Advanced (C1) and At work (B1–B2). The advanced set covers formal and literary forms like was to have married and worse was to come. For past tenses in stories, try our narrative tenses exercises.