Page 41 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

T h e f u t u r e s e e n f r o m t h e p a s t ( w a s g o i n g t o , e t c . )
future
from
the
to,
(was
The
going
past
seen
etc.)
in the
future at a
activity or event that was
There are a number of ways of talking about an activity or event that was in the future at a
There are a number of ways of talking about an
particular point in the past. In order to express this idea, we can use the past tenses of the verb
particular point in the past. In order to express this idea, we can use the past tenses of the verb
use to talk about the future (will - would, is going to - was going to, is
forms we would normally
forms we would normally use to talk about the future (will - would, is going to - was going to, is
talk - was to talk, etc.).
Compare the
following sentences:
leaving - was leaving, is
leaving - was leaving, is to to talk - was to talk, etc.). Compare the following sentences:

future from now... future from the past...
The
The
The future from now... The future from the past...

The new computer will arrive next week. Our computer was broken and we hoped
• ¢ The new computer will arrive next week. • ¢ Our computer was broken and we hoped
arrive soon.
the new one would arrive soon.
the new one would
I'm going to grow tomatoes and carrots During the winter I decided that I was
• ¢ I'm going to grow tomatoes and carrots • ¢ During the winter I decided that I was
summer. going to grow tomatoes and carrots
this
this summer. going to grow tomatoes and carrots
when the summer came.
when the summer came.
collecting my mother from the station I left the meeting early because I was
n°
I'm
• ¢ I'm collecting my mother from the station n • I left the meeting early because I was
afternoon. my mother at 3.30.
this afternoon. • * collecting
collecting my mother at 3.30.
this
As it's raining, I think I'll be going home Jane she said that she would be going
• * As it's raining, I think I'll be going home • ¢ Jane she said that she would be going
by taxi. home by taxi because of the rain.
by taxi because of the rain.
home
by taxi.
The exam will have finished by 3 o'clock, The exam was so easy that most people
• ¢ The exam will have finished by 3 o'clock, • ¢ The exam was so easy that most people
so I'll see you then. would have finished after 30 minutes.
so I'll see you then.
would have finished after 30 minutes.
Prime Minister has announced that I was on holiday in Greece when I heard
• ¢ The Prime Minister has announced that • ¢ I was on holiday in Greece when I heard
The
1st. there was to be an election back home.
there is to be an election on May
there was to be an election back home.
there is to be an election on May Ist. • * She was given a tour of the factory where
• ¢ The performance is about to begin. Please • ¢ The performance was about to begin
are to be
transferred to a
The workers
She was
given a tour of the factory where
• ¢ The workers are to be transferred to a
on the outskirts of town.
she was later to be transferred.
new factory
new factory on the outskirts of town.
she was later to be transferred.
Please
The performance is
about to begin.
begin
about to
The
performance was
ladies and gentlemen.
someone
started screaming.
take your seats, ladies and gentlemen.
take your seats,
when someone started screaming.
when

forms are used will often indicate whether the activity or event did or
The context in which these
The context in which these forms are used will often indicate whether the activity or event did or
activity or event happened
some cases we may not know whether the
did not happen, although
did not happen, although in in some cases we may not know whether the activity or event happened
or not. Compare:
or not. Compare:
(= I didn't see Jim)
I was
seeing Jim later that day, but I had to phone and cancel.
• ¢ I was seeing Jim later that day, but I had to phone and cancel. (=I didn't see Jim)
other later.
I didn't phone to break the news to him because we were seeing each
He was
• ¢ I didn't phone to break the news to him because we were seeing each other later. He was
very upset when I told him. (= we saw each other)
very upset when I told him. (= we saw each other)
some
(= they
am and would reach Edinburgh
12 hours later.
left the house at 6.00
They
• ¢ They left the house at 6.00 am and would reach Edinburgh some 12 hours later. (= they
reached Edinburgh)
reached Edinburgh)
He was sure that the medical tests would show that he was healthy.
(= we don't know
• ¢ He was sure that the medical tests would show that he was healthy. (= we don't know
whether he was healthy or not)
whether he was healthy or not)
+
used to
have
past participle
was/were to
infinitive and was/were to
+
talk
about an
Compare
Compare was/were to + infinitive and was/were to have + past participle used to talk about an
in
in
or
past:
the
the
a
particular point
at
event that was
future
activity or event that was in the future at a particular point in the past:
activity
When I was to have helped with the performance, but I got flu the day before. did actually happen.
fact some of her
she was probably the
best actor in the theatre company,
but in
« At the time
« A t the time she was probably the best actor in the theatre company, but in fact some of her
were to become much better known.
colleagues
colleagues were to become much better known.
He was to find out years later that the car he had bought was stolen.
• ¢ He was to find out years later that the car he had bought was stolen.
• ¢ I was to have helped with the performance, but I got flu the day before.
on smoking in restaurants, but restaurant owners
have
ban
forced
There was to have been a
• ¢ There was to have been a ban on smoking in restaurants, but restaurant owners have forced
the council to reconsider.
the council to reconsider.
talking about something that
are
was/were to
use
we
+
infinitive we
When we use was/were to + infinitive we are talking about something that did actually happen.
past participle we
have +
was/were to
been
are talking about something that had
we
use
When
When we use was/were to have + past participle we are talking about something that had been
not
happen.
did
but
arranged,
arranged, but did not happen.