The English language, when studied superficially, is full of contradictions. Where else, for example, will you find such a group of tenses as Future in the Past, which is translated into Russian as “the future in the past”? It would seem that common sense itself is against the merging of actions that have already taken place with those situations that have yet to take place. But if you take a good look at the essence of the issue, it turns out that in the Russian language the future often exists in the context of the past tense. Consider, for example, the phrase, "He said he won't come tomorrow." In this case, the first verb (said) is in the past tense, but the second action (will not come) refers to the future. WITH Future in the past simple everything is exactly the same. This tense group, which includes 4 tenses, is used in subordinate clauses after the verb in Past Simple (simple past tense).

If the simple future tense (Future Simple) speaks of the future relative to the present, thenfuture past tense in englishtells about what will happen in perspective from the point of view of the past. In other words, the action we mentioned at a certain moment in the past was the future:

He said that he would not come tomorrow. - He said he won't come tomorrow.

I believed you would find my letter. “I believed that you would find my letter.

What is Future in the Past Simple?

In English, the future in the past is not distinguished into a separate group of tenses. English-language manuals offer to study Future in the Past in the context of timing. The verb would (form will) also comes into play in situations when indirect speech is being parsed:I said I would give him some money ... However, Russian textbooks often speak of the future in the past as a separate group of tenses, which includes Future Simple in the Past, Future Perfect in the Past, and Future Perfect Continuous in the Past.

All four of the above tenses are used to emphasize that the action that we place in the subordinate clause will happen later than the main action in the past. For instance,My friend hoped that you would miss this party ... In this example, the verb "hoped" will happen before the person in question will or will not miss the party.

It is noteworthy that Future in the Past necessarily requires the presence of a verb in the main sentence in Past Simple. If this rule is not followed, there can be no future tense in the past. It is also important to mention that Future in the Past is often used after verbs of speaking (say, tell) or after verbs of feeling and knowledge (hope - to hope, believe - to believe, know - to know, think - to think, etc.).

I thought you would not visit me. “I thought you weren’t coming to visit me.”

Rules for the formation of the Future in the Past

Future past tense in English, as we said, is used in the subordinate clause. To form it, we always need the auxiliary verb would. In the first person (I, we), sometimes you can also find should. However, would still be preferable. Thus, the basic scheme of the Future in the Past education is as follows:

Subject + Would + semantic verb.

Jane said she would meet with him. “Jane said she would meet him.

Since this tense is used exclusively in subordinate clauses, it is difficult to imagine the use of interrogative constructions in Future in the Past. However, the question can be expressed using the if union:

I asked him if he would come tomorrow. - I asked him if he will come tomorrow.

The negative construct in Future in the Past is created by adding the particles not to the auxiliary would verb.

Jane said she would not meet with him. - Jane said she would not meet him.

In English, the auxiliary verb would is often abbreviated to the letter d, which is attached to the pronoun via an apostrophe ("):

Jane said she "d meet with him.

The negative construct would not can be abbreviated to wouldn "t.

Jane said she wouldn "t meet with him.

It is also important to note that the scheme of education of the future in the past will depend on which particular time from this group we are dealing with. The above structure is suitable for Future simple in the past ... For tenses other than would, other auxiliary verbs are required.

Future simple in the past

Of all the times of the group, the future is in the past Future simple in the past - perhaps the most common. As the name suggests, this time is used to communicate simple, short-lived actions that are, relative to a certain moment in the past, the future.

My friend knew that he would be late this evening. “My friend knew he would be late tonight.

For education Future Simple in the Past we need the auxiliary would. The form of the semantic verb will remain unchanged when it comes to the active voice. In the passive voice (cases when the subject is experiencing some kind of action), the pattern of the formation of the future simple in the past looks like this:

The subject + would be + is a semantic verb in the third form (past participle).

He knew that his house would be sold. “He knew his house would be sold.

Future continuous in the past

The future continued in the past is another tense with which there is, albeit a small, but still the likelihood of encountering in colloquial practice. Unlike the previous, simple time, Future continuous in the past expresses action stretched out in time. This can be a dream, work, writing an article, preparing homework, etc. And, of course, this very action must be future in relation to the past. For instance:

I thought I would be reading your article at that time tomorrow. “I thought I was going to read your article at this time tomorrow.

She supposed that her child would be sleeping at 17. - She assumed that her child would be sleeping at 17 o'clock.

In order to receive an offer in Future continuous in the past , the auxiliary verbs would and be are required. Small transformations also occur with the semantic verb: in this case, the suffix -ing must be added to the stem of the word.

Subject + would be + semantic verb with -ing.

I said I would be working all day tomorrow. - I said I would work all day tomorrow.

Future Perfect in the Past and Future Perfect Continuous in the Past

Future Perfect in the Past is extremely rare in English. This time differs from others in that it characterizes the completed action. Often the future perfect in the past can be identified by the preposition by. This marker indicates the end time of the action (by Monday - to Monday, by 5 o "clock - to 5 o'clock ...). However, as in other times of the Future in the Past group, the action in question is future for a moment in the past.

We supposed that she would have published that novel by the end of January. “We thought she would publish this novel by the end of January.

In the example presented, the conjecture expressed by the verb in Past Simple occurred before the publication of the novel.

When constructing a phrase in Future Perfect in the Past, one cannot do without the auxiliary verb would. We also need the constant companion of the Perfect group - the verb have. The semantic verb is put in the third form. As a result, we get just such a formula for constructing a sentence in the future, perfect in the past.

Subject + would + have + semantic verb in 3rd form.

I hoped I would have finished this project by Christmas. “I was hoping to finish this project by Christmas.

In this varietyfuture past tense in Englishthere is also a form of passive voice, which is formed according to the same principle as sentences in active voice. Only in the passive voice is there an additional auxiliary verb been:

Subject + would + have + been + semantic verb in 3rd form.

I hoped that the project would have been finished by Christmas. “I was hoping the project would be completed by Christmas.

Even less often than Future Perfect in the Past, Future Perfect Continuous in the Past appears in English. The last, fourth time from the group of the future of the past, you may not even find in good British books. But purely theoretically, it is quite possible to construct a phrase in the future perfect continued in the past.

So, Future Perfect Continuous in the Past is used when we need to communicate about a continuous action that in the future will last up to a certain time point. Moreover, this very action, again, is the future in relation to the past. In other words, if in the past we say (hope, suppose, etc.) that at such and such a moment in the future it will be so many years (months, weeks) that we will perform a certain long-term action, then it is necessary to use Future Perfect Continuous in the Past.

He said that he would have been working in that company for 2 years next month. - He said that next month it will be 2 years since he has been working for this company.

For the formation of this complex in every sense of the time, an auxiliary construction would have been will be required. The semantic verb is put in the ing-ov form:

Subject + would + have + been + semantic verb ending ing.

I told that I would have been studying French for 3 years next year. - I said that next year it will be three years as I study French.

It is clear that in real life, of all times of the group of the future in the past, the most demanded Future simple in the past ... It is unlikely that you or your interlocutor in a quick conversation will want to build bulky constructions with Future Perfect in the Past or, even more so, with Future Perfect Continuous in the Past. That is why, when studying the future in the past, it is necessary to rely on its simplest form.

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. Expand the parentheses using the verbs in 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 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 should not be. 3. He will 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 clauses as additional clauses. Use the sentences 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 program.
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 program. 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 verb tense in the main sentence.

1. I know he is coming soon.
2. I knew he was coming soon.
3. I think she will sleep at this time.
4. I thought she would be sleeping at this time.
5. She thinks she will have all the work done by five o'clock.
6. She thought 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 I would be too late.
9. She was afraid that her friend would not come.
10. They wrote that they would be coming soon.
11. I was sure that I would meet him at the station.
12. I think dad will write us a letter soon.
13. Were you told that in December we will write a test paper?
14. He realized that he would never forget her.
15. I believe they will remember us.
16. He says he knows this person.

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: A collection of exercises. - 5th ed., - SPb: KARO, 2005 .-- 544 p. - (English for schoolchildren).

English has a section of grammar called "the future in the past." How is this possible?

Despite the confusing name, it's pretty simple. We use Future in the Past when in the past we are talking about some action that will or may occur in the future.

For example: “He said he would come home late from work. She thought they would go to the store together. "

To build such sentences, you need to know the timing in English. It’s very simple. Now I will teach you.

In the article you will learn:

• Using the future simple tense in the past

What is "future in the past" in English?

We use future in the Past when in the past we are talking about an event or action that will happen in the future. Simply put, when in the past we talked about future actions.

For instance:

I thought (past tense) I would catch the train (future tense).

He said (past tense) that we would regret our decision (future tense).

As you can see, the first part is in the past tense (said, thought). The second part contains the action in the future (I'll have time, we'll regret it).

There are four future tenses that we can use in the past tense:

• Future Simple in the Past
• Future Continuous in the Past
• Future Perfect in the Past
• Future Perfect Continuous in the Past

Today we will consider the first time - Future Simple.

Future Simple in the Past Terms of Use in English

We use the Future Simple in the Past form when talking about future action in the past. This form is the most used of the four.

This proposal consists of 2 parts:

• The first part - stands in the simple past tense (Past Simple)
• The second part - contains the action of the future tense (Future Simple in the past)

Let's take a closer look at the formation of each of these parts.

The first part is the simple past tense

The first part is built in Past Simple time (past simple). Typically, this part contains the character and the action. Most often, we use the following verbs (actions) in it:

• say - to speak;
• tell - to speak;
• think - think;
• know - to know;
• believe - believe, believe;
• hope - hope

Since the first part contains the past tense (Past Simple), we put the verbs in the past form. For this:

• if the verb is correct, we add the ending -ed (hoop - hooped)
• if the verb is not correct, we put it in the 2nd form (tell - told, say - said).

Examples:

Regular verbs:

He decided…
He decided…

She wished ...
She dreamed ...

Irregular Verbs:

She thought…..
She thought…..

They knew…..
They knew…..

The second part - contains Future Simple

In the second part, we talk about future action and use Future Simple. This tense is formed using an auxiliary verb will.

However, due to the past tense in the first part, we cannot simply take and use the future tense.

Here we must make the future tense past. It’s very simple. To do this, we put will in the past tense - would.

The action that comes after would remains in its initial form, that is, it does not change in any way.

…… he would be late.
... ..he'll be late.

… ..She would work.
…..She will work.

Now let's put our two parts together. The proposal formation scheme will be as follows:

Actor + said / thought / told + (that) + Actor + would + Action

In writing, to connect two parts of a sentence, we often use the word that which translates as "what". But in colloquial speech that we usually omit.

She said(that) she would come back.
She said (that) she will be back.

He thought(that) he would win.
He thought (that) he would win.

They hoped(that) they would buy the tickets.
They hoped (that) they would buy tickets.

Negation in the form of Future Simple in the Past

We can make a sentence negative by adding negation to the first or second part.

Denial in the first part

Since the first part uses the Past Simple tense, the negation is formed using the auxiliary verb of this tense did and negative particle not.

They are usually abbreviated like this:

did + not = didn't

In this case, the action itself will now stand in its initial form, that is, it will not change in any way (say, tell, hope).

The education scheme of such a proposal:

Actor + didn "t + say / think / tell + (that) + actor + would + action

He didn "t say (that) he would come.
He did not say that he would come.

She didn’t hope (that) she would pass an exam.
She hadn't hoped that she would pass the exam.

Denial in the second part

To make the second part negative, we need after would put not.

We can shorten:

would + not = wouldn't

Actor + said / thought / told + Actor + would + not + Action

Interrogative sentences in the form of Future Simple in the Past

When we ask a question, all the changes happen in the first part. We put the auxiliary verb Past Simple (did) in the first place in the sentence, and the action in the initial form.

The proposal outline will be as follows:

Did + character + say / think / tell + (that) + character + would + action?

Did they think (that) she would get this job?
Did they think (that) she would get the job?

Did she say (that) she would return next week?
She said (that) she will be back next week?

So, we have analyzed the theory, and now let's consolidate it in practice.

Exercise to consolidate the theme of Future Simple in the past

Translate these sentences into English and write them in the comments below the article:

1. He said he would meet me.
2. They thought they weren't going to fly.
3. She didn't know he would be late.
4. Did they think she was coming?
5. He said he would work.
6. We believed that we would make the right choice.

Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

In addition to the twelve verb forms we already know to express the present, past and future, in English there is another group of tenses called Future in the Past, in translation - the future in the past. Surely you will be immediately confused by such an "illogical" name. For a Russian-speaking person, it may seem "delusional". But if you think about it, it explains the meaning of the temporary forms of Future in the Past. Future in the Past serves to express future action in terms of the past tense. Here's an example to make everything clear to you:

• She knew he would leave at 7 o'clock - She knew that he would leave at 7 o'clock.

→ At the time when she "knew" it was not yet 7 o'clock and he had not left yet. That is, the action “will leave” is future in relation to the past “knew”. So it turns out - the future is in the past.

Interestingly, far from all English language reference books consider the temporary forms of Future in the Past as a separate group. Many suggest studying Future in the Past within the framework of the rules of timing. Perhaps they are right, because the temporary group Future in the Past is used only in subordinate clauses, in order to coordinate times, and therefore does not perform the same functions as the full-fledged temporary groups Present, Past and Future.

We will nevertheless consider Future in the Past as a separate group, so that in the future you will not have unnecessary "misunderstandings". So, just like all temporary groups, (Present, Past, Future), Future in the Past has 4 forms:

1. Future Simple in the Past - the future is simple in terms of the past
2. Future Continuous in the Past - long-term future from the point of view of the past
3. Future Perfect in the Past - perfect future from the point of view of the past
4. Future Perfect Continuous in the Past - the future is absolutely long-lasting from the point of view of the past

Formation of temporary forms Future in the Past

The temporal forms of Future in the Past are formed absolutely identical to their counterparts from the Future group, with the only difference that instead of the auxiliary verbs will and shall, would and should are used (forms in the past tense).

Negative and interrogative sentences are formed according to the same rules as in the Future group. That is, in interrogative sentences, the first auxiliary verb would / should is placed in front of the subject, and in negative sentences, the particle not is used, which is placed after would / should.

In English, it is customary to use abbreviated forms. For instance:

• I should → I’d
• I would → I’d
• should not → shouldn’t
• would not → wouldn’t

1. Future Simple in the Past

Affirmative form	Interrogative form	negative form
S + should / would + V ...	Should / Would + S + V ???	S + should / would + not + V ...
I should / would (I "d) shave You would (you "d) shave He / she / it would (he "d / she’d) shave We should / would (we "d) shave You would (you "d) shave They would (they "d) shave	Should / Would I shave? Would you shave? Would he / she / it shave? Should / Would we shave? Would you shave? Would they shave?	I should / would not (shouldn "t / wouldn't) shave He / she / it would not (wouldn "t) shave We should / would not (shouldn "t / wouldn't) shave You would not (wouldn "t) shave They would not (wouldn "t) shave

2. Future Continuous in the Past

Affirmative form	Interrogative form	negative form
S + should / would + be + V-ing ...	Should / Would + S + be + V-ing ???	S + should / would + not + be + V-ing ...
I should / would (I "d) be shaving You would (you "d) be shaving He / she / it would (he "d / she’d) be shaving We should / would (we "d) be shaving You would (you "d) be shaving They would (they "d) be shaving	Should / Would I be shaving? Would you be shaving? Would he / she / it be shaving? Should / Would we be shaving? Would you be shaving? Would they be shaving?	I should / would not (shouldn "t / wouldn't) be shaving He / she / it would not (wouldn "t) be shaving We should / would not (shouldn "t / wouldn't) be shaving You would not (wouldn "t) be shaving They would not (wouldn "t) be shaving

3. Future Perfect in the Past

Affirmative form	Interrogative form	negative form
S + should / would + have + V-ed / III ...	Should / Would + S + have + V-ed / III ???	S + should / would + not + have + V-ed / III ...
I should / would (I "d) have shaven He / she / it would (he "d / she’d) have shaven We should / would (we "d) have shaven You would (you "d) have shaven They would (they "d) have shaven	Should / Would I have shaven? Would you have shaven? Would he / she / it have shaven? Should / Would we have shaven? Would you have shaven? Would they have shaven?	I should / would not (shouldn "t / wouldn't) have shaven He / she / it would not (wouldn "t) have shaven We should / would not (shouldn "t / wouldn't) have shaven You would not (wouldn "t) have shaven They would not (wouldn "t) have shaven

4. Future Perfect Continuous in the Past

Affirmative form	Interrogative form	negative form
S + should / would + have been + V-ing ...	Should / Would + S + have been + V-ing ???	S + should / would + not + have been + V-ing ...
I should / would (I "d) have been shaving He / she / it would (he "d / she’d) have been shaving We should / would (we "d) have been shaving You would (you "d) have been shaving They would (they "d) have been shaving	Should / Would I have been shaving? Would you have been shaving? Would he / she / it have been shaving? Should / Would we have been shaving? Would you have been shaving? Would they have been shaving?	I should / would not (shouldn "t / wouldn't) have been shaving He / she / it would not (wouldn "t) have been shaving We should / would not (shouldn "t / wouldn't) have been shaving You would not (wouldn "t) have been shaving They would not (wouldn "t) have been shaving

Use of temporary forms Future in the Past

Future in the Past forms are rarely found in colloquial speech. But they can still be found in the narration of past events when the words of a person are conveyed in indirect speech relating to the future tense. This means that the Future in the Past forms are used in additional relative clauses after the verbs: think - to think, tell - to speak, say - to speak, know - to know, hope - to hope, believe - to believe, expect - to expect and so on in Past Simple Tense ( thought, told, said, knew, hoped, believed, expected).

Example sentence with Future Continuous in the Past

Future in the Past in the forms of Indefinite, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect Continuous conveys the same meanings as the parallel forms of Future. The difference is that the temporal forms of Future express future actions in relation to the present moment, and the temporal forms of Future in the Past express future actions in relation to the past moment.

• Future Simple: He says he will not eat an apple - He says he will not eat an apple
• Future Simple in the Past: He said he would not eat an apple - He said he would not eat an apple

• Future Continuous: He says he will not be eating apples at 5 o'clock tomorrow - He says he will not eat apples at 5 o'clock tomorrow
• Future Continuous in the Past: He said he would not be eating apples at 5 o'clock the next day - He said he would not eat apples at 5 o'clock the next day

• Future Perfect: He says he will not have eaten apples by midnight - He says he will not eat apples by midnight
• Future Perfect in the Past: He said he would not have eaten apples by midnight - He said he would not eat apples by midnight

• Future Perfect Continuous: Doesn't say he will not have been eating this apple for 5 minutes before his mother comes - He says he won't eat this apple for 5 minutes before his mother comes
• Future Perfect Continuous in the Past: He said he would not have been eating this apple for 5 minutes before his mother comes - He said he would not eat this apple for 5 minutes before his mother comes

As you can see from the examples, Future in the Past is used exclusively to coordinate temporal forms and is translated into Russian by future tense. It is mainly used in indirect speech if the pronunciation of this speech refers to the past. It can be concluded that Future in the Past expresses the future action, which was discussed in the past.

We considered Future in the Past as a separate group of tenses, because it can cause learning difficulties. Having dealt with this topic, you will kill two birds with one stone, tk. Make it much easier for yourself to learn time alignment in English.
Watch the following video tutorials on Future in the Past.

The form of the verb Simple Future / Future Indefinite in the Past (the future is simple / indefinite in the past) is formed using the auxiliary verb should for the first person singular and plural and would for all other persons and the infinitive without a particle to.

Didn't say he would write me. He said he would write to me.
She said that we should start on a trip at 6 o'clock tomorrow. She said that we would go hiking tomorrow at 6 o'clock.

Drinking Future in the Past

Simple Future / Future Indefinite in the Past (future simple / indefinite in the past) is used to express actions in the future from the perspective of the past tense - mainly in additional clauses. That is, it expresses an action that appears to be future in relation to the action of the main sentence. This is one of the means of an important phenomenon in the English language - the coordination of times.

The doctor said that I should go to the X-ray room. The doctor told me to go to the x-ray room.
She said that she wouldn’t build the summer-cottage that year. She said she won't build a summer cottage this year,

Verbs in this form are translated into Russian by verbs of both the perfect and the imperfect form in the future tense.

She said that she would study two foreign languages ​​at the new school.
She said she will study two foreign languages ​​at the new school.