English Grammar: Future in the Past

Study Notes

Used to express an action that was expected to be completed at a specific point in the past
Formed using the past tense of the verb "will" (would) + the base form of the main verb
Can be used in combination with other verb tenses to express more complex ideas

Used to describe an action that will be completed at a specific point in the future
In the context of the future in the past, the future perfect is used to describe an action that was expected to be completed at a specific point in the past
Formed using the past tense of the verb "will have" (would have) + the past participle of the main verb
Example: "I would have graduated by then."

The future in the past can be used with various verb tenses to express different ideas:
- Past simple: to describe a completed action in the past
- Past continuous: to describe an ongoing action in the past
- Past perfect: to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past
- Past perfect continuous: to describe an ongoing action that started before another action in the past

Expresses an action that was expected to be completed at a specific point in the past
Formed using the past tense of the verb "will" (would) + the base form of the main verb

Describes an action that will be completed at a specific point in the future
In the context of the future in the past, describes an action that was expected to be completed at a specific point in the past
Formed using the past tense of the verb "will have" (would have) + the past participle of the main verb
Example: "I would have graduated by then"

Can be used with various verb tenses to express different ideas:
- Past simple: describes a completed action in the past
- Past continuous: describes an ongoing action in the past
- Past perfect: describes an action that occurred before another action in the past
- Past perfect continuous: describes an ongoing action that started before another action in the past

Often used in conditional sentences to express hypothetical or uncertain situations
Types of conditional sentences:
- Zero conditional: describes a general truth or a habitual action
- First conditional: describes a likely future event
- Second conditional: describes an unlikely or hypothetical future event
- Third conditional: describes a past hypothetical event and its consequences
- Example: "If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam" (third conditional)