The use of the Future Perfect in the Past

First – year Practical Grammar

Module 19: The Future Indefinite in the Past

The Future Indefinite in the Past is formed by means of the auxiliary verbs should (for the first person singular and plural) and would (for the second and third persons singular and plural) and the infinitive without the particle to of the notional verb.

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I should work.	Should I work?	I shouldnot work.
He (she) would work.	Would he (she) work?	He (she) wouldnot work.
We should work.	Should we work?	We shouldnot work.
You would work.	Would you work?	You wouldnot work.
They would work.	Would they work?	They wouldnot work.

The Use of the Future Indefinite in the Past

The Future Indefinite in the Past denotes an action, which was future from the point of view of the past.

E.g. We were sure they would agree. I knew they would settle all business matters pretty soon. We doubted they would be able to realize their plans.

The Future Continuous in the Past

The Future Continuous in the Past formed by means of the auxiliary verb to be in the Future Indefinite in the Past and Participle І of the notional verb.

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I should be reading.	Should I be reading?	I shouldnotbe reading.
He (she) would be reading.	Would he (she) be reading?	He (she) wouldnotbe reading.
We should be reading.	Should we be reading?	We shouldnotbe reading.
You would be reading.	Would you be reading?	You wouldnotbe reading.
They would be reading.	Would they be reading?	They wouldnotbe reading.

The use of the Future Continuous in the Past

The Future Continuous in the Past denotes an action going on at a definite moment in the future from the point of view of the Past.

E.g. I felt sure they would be discussing the same problem when I came in. We knew he would be watching TV the whole evening.

The Future Perfect in the Past

The Future Perfect in the Past is formed by means of the Future Indefinite in the Past of the auxiliary verb to have and Participle І (Past Participle) of the notional verb

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I should have written.	Should I have written?	I shouldnothave written.
He (she) would have written.	Would he (she) have written?	He (she) would not have written.
We should have written.	Would we have written?	We shouldnothave written.
You would have written.	Should you have written?	You wouldnothave written.
They would have written.	Would they have written?	They wouldnothave written.

The use of the Future Perfect in the Past

The Future Perfect in the Past is used to denote an action completed by (before) a definite moment, which was future from the point of view of the Past.

E.g. I wondered if they would have reached the place by that time. We weresure they would have arranged everything by the time I called on them.

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