BBC LEARNING ENGLISH

Take an English class on the future

in the past with Sian

Language quiz

Now let’s practise what you learned in the lesson!

Look at the pairs of sentences below – the first sentence is about
something happening in the future and the second sentence is looking at
the future from a point of view in the past. Fill in the gaps in the second
sentences with the appropriate future in the past forms.

Here’s an example to help you:

Look at those clouds - It’s going to rain today.

I knew it was going to rain today.

1. I’m not coming to work tomorrow.

Why are you here? I thought you ______ to work today.

2. I’m going to become a vegetarian next month!

I ______ a vegetarian but I can’t stop eating fish!

3. I’m about to go for a run.

I ______ for a run but it started raining, so I stayed home instead.

4. It’ll snow this winter, I’m sure.

I thought ______ snow this winter, but it was really mild.

5. I can’t stop to talk – I’m meeting my boss in 5 minutes.

Sorry I couldn’t stop earlier – I ______ my boss in 5 minutes.

Well done! Now you can check your answers at the bottom of the next
page.

Take an English class ©British Broadcasting Corporation 2021

bbclearningenglish.com Page 1 of 2
Speaking and writing practice

Now it’s time to practise writing and speaking with a friend. First of all, on
a piece of paper note down:

• 2 things that you’re doing this week (arrangements).

• 2 things that are going to do this weekend. (plans / intentions)
• 1 think you think will happen this week and 1 think you think won’t
happen.
• What you think the weather will be like this week.

One week later… go back and read the notes you made a week ago. Make
sentences using the future in the past to look back at what you thought
would happen.

For example:
I was going to cook a nice meal every night but I only cooked once!
I knew it was going to be sunny this week.
I thought I was seeing my friend on Saturday but she cancelled.

When you have finished you can share your sentences with a friend. If you
are speaking rather than writing, don’t forget to using contractions and
weak forms of pronunciation to make your sentences sound more natural!

Answers to exercise on page 1

1. Why are you here? I thought you weren’t coming to work today.
2. I was going to become a vegetarian but I can’t stop eating fish!
3. I was about to go for a run, but it started raining, so I stayed home
instead.
4. I thought it’d snow this winter but it was really mild.
5. Sorry I couldn’t stop earlier – I was meeting my boss in 5 minutes.

Take an English class ©British Broadcasting Corporation 2021

bbclearningenglish.com Page 2 of 2