The rules of Future in the past are not fundamentally different from the laws according to which many other times of English are formed. Nevertheless, it must be recognized that the so-called future in the past is somewhat different from Past Simple, which translates as “past simple” or Present Continuous, which translates as “present continuous”. Firstly, in its structure and meaning, Future in the Past is more complicated, and secondly, it is much more interesting.
Definition
But what, in fact, does all this mean? What is the future in the past and why is it needed? Firstly, the answer without any difficulties can be found in the very name of the given time of the English language - Future in the Past - the future in the past. That is, the person who uses Future in the Past, in the vast majority of cases, speaks about a certain situation in the future. Most often, the person himself speaks, thinks, or feels in the past tense. Therefore, to some extent this can be called a transition from the past to the future. Also quite often at the beginning of a sentence constructed according to the rules of the Future in the Past, phrases such as he said, she felt, they thought and so on are found. That is, there may well be an emotional or sensual color.
Rules of speech
In general, the rules of Future in the Past are consistent with the rules of education of other times. For example, the defining system of the English language (namely, subject, predicate and addition) remains the same. But instead of the already fed-up auxiliary verbs to be (am, is, are - in the present tenses, was, were - in the past tenses, will - in the future tenses) it is necessary to use the verb "would". It translates as “could”, but in the context it can have many other meanings. This is a very common occurrence in English.
You can find several species that are formed according to the rules of Future in the Past. And each time the meaning of the sentence is somewhat modified. One of the most important and often used is the Future Simple in the Past rule. Let's consider its application further.
Present Future Simple Past Rules
In the simplest version of Future in the Past, at the beginning, as always, the subject comes out (I, it, you, we, she, he, they), without which no English sentence is formed. Then followed the auxiliary verb would. And then the verb itself, explaining what action the object performs. It is important to remember that in this case, the usual prefix to the infinitive to is not added. As for the meaning, everything is extremely simple here. A person is simply talking about what might happen in the future. Often he means his aspirations, desires, plans, or something like that.
When we need to say something that, as it seems to us, will never happen in the future, we should use the system provided in the future. The subject (for example, I, it, you, we, she, he, they), followed by the auxiliary verb would, is added to it the particle not. We can say would not or abbreviate, which makes the word wouldn't. The same with should: often say or write shouldn't.
Examples
First Example: Frederick was sure that you would be definitely late to the movie. Translation: Frederick thought that you were definitely late for the beginning of the film.
Second example: James knew she would definitely help her friends and family. Translation: James knew that she would no doubt help her friends and family.
Third Example: Eleonora told her parents that Jon would call his friend in time. Translation: Eleanor told her parents that John would call his friend on time.
Future Continuous in the Past
Although not often used, it’s worth mentioning that, according to the rules of Past Future Continuous in the Past, the verb ending ing is required. First we write or say the subject, then we add the verb would, and then everything becomes a little more complicated. We do not just add the ending ing to the verb. No, we will also have to use the long-suffering verb be. For example, the sentence “We will surely do this tomorrow at the same time” can be translated into English like this: We would surely be doing it tomorrow at the same time. The bottom line is that according to the rules of Present Past Future Continuous, passive voice elements are added. By the way, it is necessary to be very careful with him, since he can overwhelm the proposal very much.
Additional examples
First example: I knew that my twin-brother would be doing laundry next Saturday. Translation: I knew that my twin brother would be cleaning next Saturday.
Second example: My friend told me that he would be swimming next friday. Translation: My friend told me that he will swim next Friday.
Future Perfect in the Past
In the first place, which is not surprising, is the subject. It is followed by the auxiliary verb would. In third place is another bunch of have been needed to determine the time. And in conclusion, a verb is added that reveals the meaning of the sentence. If it is incorrect, then the particle ed is added, and if it is correct, then the verb is put in the third form. An example is the sentence: "I will finish this business by next month." It is quite easy to translate. There is nothing special for a person who already knows the English language at the proper level. I would have done the work by the following month.
Everything is actually quite simple. We turn to Future in the Past when in the past someone said what will happen or can only happen in the future.
If we need to pay special attention to the subject on which the action is performed, and not to the performer, then it is necessary to turn to the passive voice. In this case, a completely different subject comes out in the first place. For example, the notorious sentence "I will finish this business by next week" can be rearranged into a slightly different sentence: "This business will be completed by next month." In English, it will be written like this: This work would have been done by the following month.
Future Perfect Continuous in the Past
You can hardly find time in English, which is used as rarely as Future Perfect Continuous in the Past. In the first place is the subject. Behind him comes the auxiliary verb would, and then have been got up. In conclusion, a verb with the ending ing is put. This time is used in exceptional cases. For example, if a person tells that in the future some anniversary will happen. And even he says, so to speak, in the past.
A few examples
An example is the following sentence: She said to us that he would have been doing it for three years nest October. Translation: She told us that next October he will be doing this for three years.
The sentence is perfect for the role of the second example: "My sister mentioned that our common friend would have been swimming for five minutes by that time." “My sister mentioned that by then he would be swimming for five minutes.”
A third example is another sentence with a similar theme: "My Mother told me in secret that she would have been cleaning our house for three hours next hour." “My mother told me in confidence that in an hour it would be three hours before she cleaned our house.”
Conclusion
All times of English are important and occupy their rightful place in the structure of the language. Many of them are treated extremely rarely. Others, by contrast, are nowhere to be found. Even in written sources and ancient books. But this does not negate their value, because sometimes, contrary to everything, they can still be used. Knowing the rules of Future in the Past, you can avoid many mistakes in written and spoken language that educated people would certainly notice.