● Talking about the future from some point in the past; talked in the past

about a future plan/intention, prediction, a promise, voluntary action

Choose would or was/were going to
1) He was sure she ________ never help him. It turned out he had been
right. – a promise
2) I ___________tell her but I didn’t have time – A future plan or intention
3) They __________start the project on Monday but had to change plans
due to an operational issue – A future plan or intention
4) She promised she _______call me, but she never did – a promise.
5) They said they ________be here by 9pm, but they haven’t arrived yet – a
promise.
6) She said she ___________ go because she missed practice last week.
-negative plan
7) I ____________ tell him, but he didn't give me a chance. - plan/intention
8) I thought we ____________eat out tonight. - plan
9) She said that she______ wash the dishes. - voluntary action

A) Join each idea in A with an idea from B.

Make sentences using WAS / WERE GOING TO and the verbs in brackets.

A B
1. I (take) a taxi home last night, a) but it rained all afternoon, so we
stayed at home.
2. We (write) to them when we were b) but my boss offered me more
on holiday money, so I decided to stay.

3. She (drive) to Scotland last weekend,
4. We (play) tennis yesterday afternoon,
5. She (watch) the film on TV last night,
c) but I didn’t have enough money,
so I had to walk.
d) but she had seen it before, so she
went to bed early.
e) but her car broke down, so she
went by train.

6. I (change) my job last year. f) but we changed our minds and

phoned them instead.

1. I was going to take a taxi home last night, but I didn’t have enough money, so
I had to walk.
 2.
……………………………………………………………………………………
3.
……………………………………………………………………………………
4.
……………………………………………………………………………………
5.
……………………………………………………………………………………

6. …………………………………………………………………………………

Use WAS / WERE GOING TO:

1. Did you travel by train?
No, I was going to travel by train but I changed my mind.
2. Did you buy that jacket you saw in the shop window?
No, I …………………………………………………………. but I changed my
mind.
3. Did Sue get married?
No, she ……………………………………………. but she changed her mind.
4. Did Wayne and Sharon go to Greece for their holidays?
No, …………………………………………………
5. Did you play tennis yesterday?
No, ……………………………………………………………
6. Did you invite Ann to the party?
No, ……………………………………………………………

Speaking:
What were the things you were going to do last year but you changed your
mind?
1…………………………….
2…………………………….
3…………………………….
What were the things you were going to do last week but you changed your
mind?
1…………………………………………..
2…………………………………………..
3………………………………………….
By this time next year, I will have:
1).........................................
2)..........................................
3)...........................................

By the end of this week, I will have:

1).............................................
2).............................................
3).............................................

In 2 months’ time, I will have:

1) ……………………………..
2) ……………………………..
3) …………………………….

We can use phrases like by or by the time (meaning 'at some point before') and
in or in a day's time / in two months' time / in five years' time etc. (meaning 'at
the end of this period') to give the time period in which the action will be
completed.