Future Time Reference: Part One


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What verb tense do we use to refer to the future? 

Before we begin, you might want to reference our lesson, "What Is the Difference between a Verb Tense and a Time Reference?"

How Do We Refer to the Future?

There are a number of ways to indicate future time reference. Although each type refers to the future, there are differences between them.


  1. from the reference point of the present

  2. from the reference point of the past

From the reference point of the past


"was/were going to + [base form of the verb]

Here, we are using past progressive verb tense + an infinitive phrase.

  • She felt sad because I was going to move to another country.

  • I felt sad because I was going to miss my parents and my friends.

  • After the wedding, I was moving to New York, and she wasn't going to be seeing me for a long time.

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

Past continuous tense normally refers to an action taking place in the past.  If you are using the past continuous tense to refer to the future and it is unclear from the context whether this sentence refers to a present or a future event, add a time reference (in an hour, tomorrow, later today, tonight, next week, etc.) to clarify.

  • After the wedding, I was moving to New York.

MODALS

Modals such as can, may and will imply the future; use the past tense forms of these modals to indicate the future, from the point of view of the past.

  • I was happy to think that maybe I could make my dreams come true.

  • I was happy to think that maybe I might be able to make my dreams come true.

  • I was happy to think that maybe I would be able to make my dreams come true.

  • I was moving to New York and she wouldn't be seeing me for a long time.

INDIRECT SPEECH:  VERB TENSE BACKSHIFT

  • She said that I would have the same problem.

  • My mother told me that she was going to buy me shoes and socks for soccer.

Next...

In our next lesson, we teach When to Use the Past Perfect Tense

So from the ESL Help Desk, thanks for dropping by for this lesson and remember to email us your questions about English grammar by way of our blog. 

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