Grammar: Talking about the future in the past - BBC English Masterclass

Improve your English grammar with the BBC. Do you know how to talk about a future plan you had in the past? Watch this free online English lesson to find out how.
For more, visit our website: www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/...
More in this series:
Present to talk about the past:
bit.ly/bbc_present_to_talk_ab...
How to mix conditionals:
bit.ly/bbc_masterclass_mixing...
5 ways to talk about the future:
bit.ly/bbc_masterclass_5_ways...
Using 'which' to add information:
bit.ly/bbc_masterclass_using_...
Linking words of contrast:
bit.ly/bbc_masterclass_linkin...
#learnenglish #bbcmasterclass #tenses
Transcript:
Sian
Hi Sian here for BBC Learning English - today is an exciting day because we are going to go back to the past and look at the future!
So, you know that we have a past tense, a present tense, lots of future forms, but did you know we also have the future in the past?
When we talk about the past, sometimes we want to talk about something that was in the future at that time - to do this we put the future forms into the past. I'm going to show you some examples of this and I'm going to take you back to the past to do this...
Am/is/are going to becomes was/were going to
(Earlier today... "It's such a nice day today - I'm going to go for a run at lunchtime!")
Ah I was going to go for a run today, but I'm feeling a bit tired now!
So, when we want to use the future in the past with 'going to', 'I am going to' becomes 'I was going to' - ''I was going to go for a run''. We can use this for predictions or intentions that change, like my intention to go for a run, or for things that did happen. So, "I knew it was going to be sunny today!"
Pay attention to the pronunciation though - 'I was going to' when we speak quickly becomes 'I was gonna'. "I was gonna go for a run today, but I'm gonna have lunch instead''
Present continuous becomes past continuous
(Earlier today: "I've got to go, I'm meeting Neil at 10 o'clock.")
"Sorry I was in a rush earlier, I was meeting Neil at 10 o'clock and I didn't want to be late."
So, we use the present continuous to talk about arrangements in the future. When we want to talk about the future in the past, this becomes becomes the past continuous. So, for example, "I was meeting a friend for lunch so I was in a hurry."
We can also use for arrangements that didn't happen, but you intended them to happen.
Will becomes would
(Earlier today: "I've got to go Neil, I'll call you back later.")
"Oh I told Neil I would call him later... I need to do that!"
When referring to the future in the past will becomes would - "I said I'd call Neil." Remember we normally contract would to 'd.
Am/are/is about to becomes was/were about to
"Oh hang on a minute... I was about to call you Neil! No honestly, I was just about to call you."
So, when we talk about the future - something that's going to happen in a short time, we use am about to "I'm about to call Neil". When we want to use this structure to talk about the future in the past, am about to becomes was about to. I was about to call Neil when he phoned me.
Future perfect becomes would + have + past participle
(Earlier today: "I think I'll have finished all my work by lunchtime.")
"Ah it's almost lunchtime, I thought I'd have finished all my work by now... but it's taking ages!"
So, when we talk about the future in the past using the future perfect, the future perfect form will have + past participle becomes would have + past participle. So, 'I will have finished' becomes 'I would have finished'. Pay attention to the contractions again, so instead of saying I would have, when we're speaking we say I'd've. 'I thought I'd've made more money by now!'
Now, I was going to tell you all to go to our website bbclearningenglish.com for more information about the future in the past and to practise this... but you all know that already so I don't need to tell you! See you soon - Bye!

[@dnoypi206]

I was going to say thank you. But, I thought no words would fit how much grateful I am learning English with BBC.

[@BrunaGuissi]

Even though this dates back more than four years ago, it still remains quite useful and didactic. I use your channel's videos in my classes often! It helps me refresh the subjects and better explain this to my students. Thank-you very much.

[@bbclearningenglish]

What were you going to do next? Maybe you could check out this other English Masterclass: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZqsZKqge7yGjrM

[@mariamkinen8036]

I love this particular info. The changes I can tell since they follow the pattern all through the grammar. Will becoming would .

[@mmaryuv5777]

Easy to know, hard to remember when talking.

[@Mohammed.Ahmed-Ghanam]

I totally agree with you 😂😂

[@engin7787]

What a pleasant teacher that you are ! It is joy to listening you !

[@Gabrrrielall]

Great explanation! I've just learned that thanks to you :) Thx so much!

[@razvantugulea2898]

Thank you for the explanation. It's so much easier to digest this information when a native explains it.

[@user-fh3ue8sz8d]

Thank you so much for you your speech is very clear and you have ability to arrive information

[@sone6712]

It turns out that she is one of the speakers I listen on BBC app, she really has a nice voice

[@mesayc.3040]

Thank you, it was a great lesson.

[@2010Tigresa]

Thank you very much for this lesson! It's absolutely important.

[@antonromanenko3200]

Thank you

[@akramwahbaakramwahba8846]

Thanks so much

[@alim4803]

thanks a lot for your help

[@mihailshterev2791]

thanks so much! cheers

[@karlitaflores7516]

super interesting, very easy to remember!!!

[@lkuukiks5095]

thank you

[@nilanc1670]

Thanks for your help

[@dimitriivanovich9249]

Thank you It was useful information!

[@haoboqin53]

Thank you, you help me a lot.

[@przemekx4182]

thanks Sian ...good job

[@mariamkinen8036]

Brilliant everyday usage.

[@xuejunchen2955]

I like your English Learning video and downloaded all the video of yours , I like you !

[@lukalekovic5356]

I was going to go to work, but I just wanted to watch this episode and learn something new. Thank you.

[@tgchan]

Thank you.

[@violetamurillomedal9139]

I learned a lot , thanks

[@mohitpundir9809]

very nice way to explain how to talk

[@CamilaContreras-mj3sc]

The video is very useful, it helped me to clarify certain doubts that I had about the subject as it is very well explained and is easier to understand thanks to how it explains it.

[@bbclearningenglish]

Glad it was helpful!

[@samerabd8775]

i was going to say thanks earlier but i have got some issues i solved .... i would see more videos like these in the future and thank you for your efforts

[@czernm20]

Cheers! I love you!

[@loydsevilla146]

Thanks..

[@slavaukraine211]

Very useful information, thanks

[@tomrox8921]

thanks Sian

[@naturewildlife1311]

Life saver lecture

[@kevinlau1953]

perfect!

[@walidbenhammou4387]

lovely teacher

[@mariamkinen8036]

I get this. Lovely.

[@sofiaguerrero3302]

This is really helpful, it solved some problems and questions that spoke body may have, thanks!

[@bbclearningenglish]

Glad it helped!

[@Arifauto]

BBC please add more examples I didn't understood yet

[@Jtube0101Mega]

Great esson! Thank you very much from Brazil!

[@bbclearningenglish]

Glad you liked it!

[@user-hl2db9qs8f]

How to will found u in utube?only sian not give result. Not actually only bbc but another video too.

[@ramazanuysal3130]

thanks Sian for this very revealing lesson.

[@bbclearningenglish]

Glad it was helpful!

[@fatmirkavaja4045]

... from my point of view this is super lesson...

[@ximenamejia7009]

Wow!

[@sunday8386]

👏👏👋 Perfect!

[@berodicko8131]

I Need a video figure out VS find out please

[@mahhais5221]

Thank u for your intertaining & interesting method. I would like to ask you this question:Is it correct to change this example from the future into future in the past as follows: Ex:John will be working late, so I won't call him early in the morning. I knew John would be working late, so I wouldn't call him early in the morning . Why it can be answered as follows? Which of the two answers is correct? I knew John would be working late, so I didn't call him early in the morning. I want to know which of the answers above is correct cobsolidating your comment with a grammatical rule. I am looking forward to your answer sooner not later with my regards. I am from Iraq.

[@Destiny5518G]

this help lots for not native speakers to learn another good way to speak

[@ShabbirHussain-in2le]

I like Shan English videos!

[@manojkumar-sy9yr]

I should arrive before 5 pm. And I should have finished this book before Friday. ( Please Explain the both mentioned sentences)

[@MegaMyacc]

I love your accent..

[@balsonnaoshekpam5680]

Thanks ma'am What about "about to"

[@user-iv4sp6bi7i]

Greet the wonderful your efforts But kinder Is it possible to become a lesson longest time to thoroughly understand

[@egekayacan861]

thanq madam for explain... many help me will make like video for more 😁👍

[@arevikaraqelian379]

The future continuous in the past is work out for me... I need your help

[@annasaifulina3574]

Could you please explain why do you 'going to go'. I remember there is a rule that verbs 'go' and 'come' can't be used with 'be going to'

[@bbclearningenglish]

You’re right Anna, some grammar books say that we don't normally use the verbs ‘go’ or ‘come’ with the ‘going to’ form - we use the present continuous instead. But in fact, both forms are grammatically correct and used by native speakers. So, Sian could say here: ‘I’m going for a run’ or ‘I’m going to go for a run’. Normally, the ‘going to’ form is used for intentions/plans and the present continuous form is used for arrangements.

[@drakpala5140]

Anna Saifulina thank you so much.

[@drakpala5140]

Anna Saifulina thank you so much. I want to learning English bbc sounds.

[@relx4moment526]

Can you give me examples in Word: recognized in future in the past tense. Pls

[@bbclearningenglish]

I didn't think I would recognise you when I saw you, but I did!

[@user-lz7xx7vr8j]

I want a chance to live in London for short time to Learn English to practise or learn from the native speakers . Does there is any free provision for one who loves or is keen eager to learn English Like British people. If have ,Please make me inform

[@Jtube0101Mega]

Hello teacher. It was a great lesson and I thank you very much, but I have a question. Do we use this same structure to talk about future plans related to now that were canceled? I have some examples about what I mean bellow. 1) Imagine I am going to travel to Canada next month and my uncle invited me to visit him next month so I say 'Sorry, I can't travel to you house because I am going to travel to Canada next month' But now (which is not next month yet), for some reason all flights to Canda were cancelled. So in this situation I call to my uncle and say: 'I was going to travel to Canada next month, but all the flights were canceled, so I can go to your house' Is correct to say about that plan to the future related to now that was cancelled 'I was going to travel to Canada...' ? 2) Imagine my friend invited me to his birthday party next week, but can't go because I have a business traveling so I say him: 'Sorry, I can't go to your birthday party next wee because I am traveling next week'. However, after I say that to my friend, for some reason, my business traveling was canceled. So, I call to my friend now and say 'I was traveling next week, but it was canceled. I can go to your birthday party next week' ---- So, is correct use the same structure explained int the video to talk about future plans related to now that was canceled? The most important sentences about what I mean are bellow. I ask that because I've found on the internet only explanations about the future in the past but not explantions about future plans related to now that were canceled. 'I was going to travel to Canada next month, but all the flights were canceled, so I can go to your house' 'I was traveling next week, but it was canceled. I can go to your birthday party next week' Thank you very much from Brazil

[@valdezenglishcourses]

EXCELLENT VIDEO. YOU ARE HELPING A MLOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LEARN ENGLISH AROUND THE WORLD. I WILL SEND MY STUDENTS TO WATCH THIS VIDEO WHEN THEY HAVE TO LEARN THE PAST PROGRESSIVE. KEEP ON DOING THESE VIDEOS . YOU ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.

[@Estanis72]

Does anybody have a aspiring?I feel a bit dizzy after this lesson ...I just want to have fun and be able to communicate with other people and if it's possible reach the queen's level of English...

[@maheshm6461]

It is same like reported speech

[@mariamkinen8036]

Actually this follows the pattern but you only need to know the particular usage.

[@MrBradmoss]

do many natives have that perfect accent as she has?

[@Krucezam]

one thing is confusing me a lot is how different future perfect 'would have ' in past from third conditional

[@sgdusdm8225]

Future in the past is used to express the idea that in the past you thought something would happen in the future.

[@2023noone]

I thought watching Dark was difficult, now I am not sure about it after watching this video.

[@mariamkinen8036]

... the future in the past. At that time. Which was then the future. I do understand.

[@AhmedKhaled-on5jl]

It's a very good video, but unfortunately I didn't understand (would)

[@bbclearningenglish]

Maybe you should visit our website for more explanation www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/upper-intermediate/unit-4/session-1

[@Now6674]

Good video but the music that you use in between segments is disturbing an irritating

[@luissanches23]

What's the difference between I was going to tell you. and I was about to tell you.

[@user-cs9jj4vp8p]

Who is from 2024❤

[@alexanderminchenko777]

It should have been 'I was thinking of going.'

[@sksksksksksk6764]

Ammar will be working late , so I won't call 📱 him early in the morning . To make it future in the past will /would won't / didn’t The question ❔ is why won't became didn't

[@twothree4]

I dont know if it's only me or this music is really bizarre🤨

[@nguyenphuongdong176]

too hard

[@shafio2]

a bit hard and confusing.

[@shafio2]

I was in time machine.. past, present & future.

[@romulusmilea2747]

How can you say "... going to go" ? Uhh, not pleasant, at all ! I have never expected this from a native English speaker.

[@user-se8to2lg5v]

Thank you

[@walidbenhammou4387]

lovely teacher

[@jorgecaboomxd4576]

Thank you, it was a great lesson

[@bbclearningenglish]

Glad you found it useful :)