Ch 28 · Lesson 9English · Chapter 28 · Lesson 9 · Grammar primer
She knew it would rain: will becomes would
After said, knew or promised, will steps back to would: he promised he would write. Not the would of habit: every summer we would swim.
The short version
After said or knew, will becomes would
.
Why?Hide
Looking forward from a past moment, will steps back to would: she knew it would rain, he promised he would write. It is the same step back as in reported speech. Do not mix it up with the would of habit: every summer we would swim (we used to).
Would: will, seen from the past
After a past verb like said, knew, thought or promised, will becomes would:
.., .
This is the same step back as in
reported speech: I will help
becomes .
If it is still in the future now, you can keep will:
. (Tomorrow has not come yet.)
| Which would? | Sentence |
|---|---|
| , | . |
, . |
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| was going to called | was going to call | . |
| was about to leaving | was about to leave | + verb. |
| knew it will rain, and it did | knew it would rain, and it did | : . |
Going further: Was going to: the plan and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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9-question session
One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
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