Статья будет объяснять, что такое «future in the past» в английском языке и какие времена используются для его образования. Читатели узнают, как использовать этот концепт в своей речи и понимании английского языка.
Статья:
Have you ever heard the phrase «future in the past» in English? This concept may seem confusing at first, but it is actually quite simple. Future in the past refers to a time in the past when someone was making a prediction about the future. For example, if someone said «I knew he would be successful,» they are describing a future event (his success) from a past perspective.
To form the future in the past, we use a combination of past tenses and modals. The most common structure is «would» + past verb, as in the example above. However, we can also use «was/were going to» + verb or «was/were about to» + verb. These structures convey similar meanings, but may have a slightly different nuance.
Let’s look at some examples:
— Yesterday, I knew she would pass the test.
— Last year, I was going to take a trip to Europe.
— At that moment, he was about to make a move.
In each of these sentences, the speaker is describing a future event from a past perspective. While the events have already happened (or not happened), at the time of speaking they were still in the future.
It’s important to understand the concept of future in the past because it is commonly used in conversation and writing. Native English speakers often use this structure without even realizing it, so it’s helpful for language learners to be able to recognize and use it as well.
Next time you hear someone talking about the future in the past, don’t be confused! Remember that they are describing a future event from a past perspective. With a little practice, you’ll be able to use this concept in your own English conversations.