Basics. Expressing the Future in the Past: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓Expressing the Future in the Past
We use the "future in the past" to talk about predictions, plans, or events that were in the future at a certain point in the past. For example, you might say, "I knew she would win the race" (a past prediction) or "We were going to leave, but it started raining" (an unfulfilled plan). This structure often relies on verbs and phrases like would, was/were going to, was/were about to, and the past continuous.
In this advanced challenge, you will step into various dramatic and humorous scenarios, from helping a galactic commander explain a cancelled Earth invasion to piecing together a clumsy time traveler's frustrated log entries. You will practice distinguishing between unfulfilled intentions (was going to), immediate interrupted actions (was about to), and narrative destiny or hindsight (would).
You'll navigate these tricky tenses across 12 questions featuring single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
The correct answers are Little did they know, their awful garage rehearsals would eventually lead to a platinum record, The drummer, who was to become a global icon, couldn't even keep a steady beat back then, and They were playing their first real gig the following week, so they practiced day and night.
"Would + base verb" is often used in storytelling to talk about the "future from the perspective of the past" (destiny).
"Was/were to + base verb" is a formal way to describe destiny or events that were fated to happen.
The Past Continuous (were playing) can be used to describe fixed plans or arrangements that existed in the past.
Why are the others incorrect?
"Were going to eventually leading" mixes constructions; it should be "lead."
"Would becoming" is incorrect because modal verbs like would must be followed by a base verb (become).
Question 2
The correct answers are was leaving, was going to transport, and would be spending.
"Was leaving" uses the past continuous to talk about a fixed plan or arrangement that was made in the past.
"Was going to transport" expresses a past intention or plan that ultimately did not happen.
"Would be spending" shifts the future continuous ("I will be spending") into the past to reflect a realization made in the past about an ongoing future action.
Question 3
The correct answers are We were leaving for the Bahamas the next morning, but a sudden hurricane grounded all flights, I was going to relax on the beach all week until I realized I had packed my winter coat by mistake, and The resort was to have sent a luxury shuttle for us, but it never arrived.
Past Continuous (were leaving) is excellent for past arrangements.
"Was going to" perfectly captures a past intention that was thwarted.
"Was to have sent" describes an unfulfilled expectation or formal arrangement.
Why are the others incorrect?
"Would" is not used for personal, arranged plans that got canceled; it's used for habits in the past or narrative destiny.
"Was about to" must be followed by a base verb, not an -ing gerund ("relaxing").
Question 4
Complete the galactic commander's disappointed diary entry by choosing the correct verb phrase.
We ______ Earth on Tuesday, but the Supreme Leader called it off because of a mild drizzle in London.
The correct answer is were going to invade.
We use was/were going to to talk about a plan or intention made in the past that ultimately did not happen (an unfulfilled plan). While "would" is also used for the future in the past, it is generally not used for personal intentions or unfulfilled plans in independent clauses like this one.
Question 5
Help the clumsy time traveler complete his diary entry by dragging the correct future-in-the-past expressions into the gaps.
I was about to press the temporal reset button when the laboratory's alarms suddenly started blaring. Little did I know that this minor five-second delay would alter the entire course of the 23rd century. Originally, my expedition was to remain a complete secret, but now I've practically announced my arrival to the universe!
I was about to press the temporal reset button when the laboratory's alarms suddenly started blaring.
We use "was/were about to" to describe an immediate future action in the past, which is very often interrupted by another event.
Little did I know that this minor five-second delay would alter the entire course of the 23rd century.
"Would" is used here to talk about a destined event or a future outcome viewed from a point in the past (often used in storytelling to hint at what happened later).
Originally, my expedition was to remain a complete secret, but now I've practically announced my arrival to the universe!
"Was/were to" + infinitive is used to talk about formal plans, arrangements, or destined events that were scheduled in the past.
Question 6
Help the biographer complete the dramatic turning point of the inventor's life. Choose the correct phrase.
Arthur confidently unveiled his self-buttering toaster to the investors, completely unaware that this spectacular malfunction ______ him his entire career.
The correct answer is would cost.
We use would + base verb to express the "future in the past"—specifically to talk about a destiny or the final outcome of a past situation, viewed from that point in the past. Because the main narrative is in the past ("unveiled," "unaware"), the future consequence ("will cost") must shift back to "would cost."
Question 7
Piece together the retired actor's dramatic memoir by dragging the appropriate past-future forms into the text.
I was just about to deliver my heartbreaking opening monologue when a rather plump stray cat wandered onto the stage. I was absolutely terrified that the critics would tear my performance to shreds in the morning papers. However, as fate would have it, that furry little intruder was to become the most celebrated star of our entire theater season!
I was just about to deliver my heartbreaking opening monologue when a rather plump stray cat wandered onto the stage.
"Was just about to" perfectly captures an action that was on the very brink of happening before being unexpectedly interrupted.
I was absolutely terrified that the critics would tear my performance to shreds in the morning papers.
Here, "would" represents a past fear or prediction about the future. The actor thought, "They will tear my performance to shreds," which becomes "would" in the past narrative.
However, as fate would have it, that furry little intruder was to become the most celebrated star of our entire theater season!
"Was to become" is a literary way of expressing destiny or "fate" in the past—an event that happened later in the story but was already "written in the stars."
Question 8
Complete the story about a chronic overpacker by selecting the grammatically correct word.
When she packed three giant suitcases for a simple weekend trip, Clara firmly believed she ______ need at least fourteen different outfits.
The correct answer is would.
When reporting a past thought or belief about the future, the modal verb will shifts to would. Clara's past thought was "I will need fourteen outfits," which becomes "she believed she would need" in the past narrative.
Question 9
The correct answers are Agent Bob was going to steal the microchip, but he accidentally locked himself in the bathroom, He was to have disabled the laser grid at midnight, but he fell asleep, and He was about to escape through the air duct when his trousers snagged on a screw.
"Was going to + base verb" is perfectly used for unfulfilled intentions in the past.
"Was/were to have + past participle" is a formal way to talk about an arrangement that did not happen.
"Was/were about to + base verb" describes an action that was on the verge of happening.
Why are the others incorrect?
We cannot use "would" for unfulfilled personal plans or intentions (we only use it for predictions, promises, or narrative destiny).
"He was to disabling" is grammatically incorrect; it must be followed by the base verb ("disable") or perfect infinitive ("have disabled").
Question 10
Complete the frantic wedding planner's apology email by dragging the correct phrases into the blanks.
I know I promised that the majestic white doves would fly over the altar exactly at noon. We were going to use the highly trained birds from the sanctuary, but they unfortunately escaped their cages last night. The backup pigeons were to be delivered this morning by a local farmer, but his truck broke down on the highway.
I know I promised that the majestic white doves would fly over the altar exactly at noon.
When reporting a past promise or prediction (originally "The doves will fly..."), "will" changes to "would" to express the future in the past.
We were going to use the highly trained birds from the sanctuary, but they unfortunately escaped their cages last night.
"Was/were going to" is the standard way to express an unfulfilled intention or plan in the past—something you planned to do but didn't.
The backup pigeons were to be delivered this morning by a local farmer, but his truck broke down on the highway.
"Were to be" (the past form of "are to be") describes a scheduled arrangement in the passive voice. Since "pigeons" is plural, it requires "were" rather than "was".
Question 11
The correct answers are was about to board, would escape, and was to end.
"Was about to" shows that the boarding was going to happen immediately but got interrupted.
"Would escape" shifts the future intention ("I will escape") into the past because the belief happened in the past ("He believed").
"Was to end" is a narrative device used to talk about an inevitable future event from a past perspective (destiny).
Question 12
The correct answers are would ruin, were about to jump, and was to become.
We use "would" to express a prediction made in the past about a future event.
"Were about to" describes an action that was imminent (very close to happening) in the past before it was interrupted.
"Was to become" (was/were + infinitive) is a formal way to describe a destiny or something that was arranged to happen later in the past story.