Când viitorul e deja trecut
Uneori povestești un moment din trecut și vrei să spui ce era planificat sau ce urma să se întâmple de acolo. Folosești viitorul în trecut:
I was going to call you, but I forgot.
Aveam de gând să te sun, dar am uitat.
We were about to leave when the phone rang.
Eram pe punctul să plecăm când a sunat telefonul.
She said she would help us.
A spus că ne va ajuta.
Formele
| Forma | Ce arată | Exemplu |
|---|---|---|
| was / were going to | un plan sau o intenție din trecut | I was going to study abroad. |
| was / were about to | un moment foarte apropiat | The film was about to start. |
| was / were due to | un program, un orar | The train was due to arrive at six. |
| was / were supposed to | o așteptare sau o regulă | You were supposed to call me. |
| would | viitor într-o povestire sau în vorbirea indirectă | He knew he would never see her again. |
| was / were to | destin, în texte literare sau formale | She was to become a famous doctor. |
Planuri care nu s-au realizat
Formele was going to, was about to și was supposed to arată adesea că ceva nu s-a întâmplat:
I was going to buy the tickets online, but the website wasn't working.
Voiam să cumpăr biletele online, dar site-ul nu funcționa.
He was going to propose, but he lost the ring.
Voia să o ceară în căsătorie, dar a pierdut inelul.
Pentru o intenție neîndeplinită poți folosi și I meant to și I had hoped to: I meant to write, but I didn't have time.
would în povestiri
În povestiri și în vorbirea indirectă (B1, Lecția 31), would arată viitorul văzut din trecut:
They didn't know that this decision would change their lives.
Nu știau că decizia aceasta le va schimba viața.