Future in the Past in English: The Complete Guide to Acing the TOEIC®
Flow Exam team
The future in the past expresses a future action from a past reference point.
It is used on the TOEIC® to report forecasts, intentions, or plans made in the past. For example: "She said she would attend the meeting."
The main trap: confusing "would + base verb" with the conditional tense, when it is simply the future seen from the past.
When to Use the Future in the Past on the TOEIC®
The future in the past appears in three typical contexts in Parts 5, 6, and 7.
Reported Speech in the Past
When you report what someone said, planned, or promised, the future automatically becomes "would + base verb".
- "The manager announced that the office would close early on Friday."
- "They promised the report would be ready by Monday."
Past Intentions and Plans
To express what someone intended to do at a past moment.
- "I knew the client would request additional documents."
Forecasts Made in the Past
To talk about what was expected to happen.
- "We expected the shipment would arrive on Tuesday."
Forms of the Future in the Past
You will encounter three main structures on the TOEIC®.
| Structure | Example | TOEIC® Context |
|---|---|---|
| would + base verb | He said he would call back. | Reported speech (Part 5/6) |
| was/were going to + base verb | They were going to launch the product in May. | Past plans (Part 6/7) |
| was/were to + base verb | The CEO was to announce the merger. | Official plans (Part 7) |
The "would + base verb" form is the one you will see 8 times out of 10. So, you need to be rock solid on this one.
Common Errors and TOEIC® Traps
Three errors come up regularly among candidates we support for the TOEIC®.
Error 1: Confusing it with the Conditional
The future in the past uses "would", but it is NOT the conditional tense. No condition with "if" is needed.
- Incorrect : "She said she would attend if she would have time."
- Correct : "She said she would attend if she had time."
Error 2: Forgetting Sequence of Tenses
When the introductory verb is in the past tense, the future must become "would", never "will".
- Incorrect : "He promised he will finish by 5 PM."
- Correct : "He promised he would finish by 5 PM."
Error 3: Adding "to" after "would"
"Would" is already a modal auxiliary verb. It is always followed by the base form of the verb, never by "to".
- Incorrect : "They announced they would to extend the deadline."
- Correct : "They announced they would extend the deadline."
| Error | Correction | Why it's a TOEIC® Trap |
|---|---|---|
| She said she will come. | She said she would come. | The introductory verb "said" requires sequence of tenses in the past. |
| I thought he would to accept. | I thought he would accept. | "Would" is never followed by "to". |
| They knew it will be difficult. | They knew it would be difficult. | After "knew" (past), you use "would", not "will". |
Recognizing Clues in TOEIC® Questions
Certain words signal that you need to use the future in the past. Spotting them saves you precious time in Part 5.
Introductory Verbs in the Past Tense
These verbs almost always signal a future in the past immediately following them.
- said, announced, promised, stated, confirmed
- thought, believed, expected, knew, assumed
- indicated, mentioned, noted, reported
Example:
- "The director indicated that the budget would increase next quarter."
Time Markers in the Past
If you see these expressions, look for a "would + base verb" structure.
- yesterday, last week/month/year
- at that time, back then
- during the meeting, in the email
Example:
- "During yesterday's call, they confirmed the supplier would deliver on time."
Future in the Past vs. Other Similar Structures
The TOEIC® loves to create confusion between these three forms. How to distinguish them quickly?
| Tense | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Future (will) | Future action from the present moment | The team will submit the proposal tomorrow. |
| Future in the Past (would) | Future action from a past moment | They said the team would submit the proposal. |
| Conditional (would + if) | Hypothetical situation with a condition | The team would submit the proposal if they had more time. |
Quick Identification Tip:
If you see "would" without "if" in the sentence, and there is an introductory verb in the past tense, it is the future in the past, not the conditional.
- "We thought the project would be approved."
Here, there is no "if", no condition. It is simply a forecast made in the past.
Typical TOEIC® Practice Cases
The confusion between "will" and "would" frequently reappears in Part 5. Even for candidates using an online platform provided by their school. This is often where many get caught: these tools emphasize the rule, but rarely instill the rapid reflex needed under pressure.
Business Emails (Part 6/7)
You will often see emails reporting conversations or decisions.
- "In her message, Sarah mentioned that she would review the contract before signing."
Meeting Minutes (Part 7)
Meeting reports use the future in the past extensively to summarize what was decided.
- "The board agreed that costs would be reduced by 15% over six months."
Announcements and Internal Communications (Part 7)
Official announcements often report decisions made previously.
- "Management confirmed that new policies would take effect in January."
Decision Checklist
A chart to help you make the right decision in 3 seconds.
| You See | Action | Form to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Past introductory verb + future action | Future in the Past | would + base verb |
| "if" in the sentence + "would" | Conditional Tense | would + base verb |
| Future action without a past introductory verb | Simple Future | will + base verb |
Ready to Practice?
The future in the past is a tricky but extremely common grammar point on the TOEIC®, especially in the Reading sections. Once you master the sequence of tenses and spot the clues (introductory verbs, time markers), you won't get tricked anymore.
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