Zukunft in der Vergangenheit
Um über etwas zu sprechen, das aus Sicht der Vergangenheit in der Zukunft lag, verschiebt man die Zukunftsformen zurück: will → would, am going to → was going to. Im Deutschen entspricht das oft „würde“ oder „wollte“.
| Form | Gebrauch | Beispiel |
|---|---|---|
| would | Vorhersage, Versprechen, indirekte Rede | I knew she would love it. |
| was / were going to | Plan oder Absicht, oft nicht umgesetzt | We were going to call, but we forgot. |
| was / were -ing | feste Verabredung | He was nervous: he was flying the next day. |
| was / were about to | unmittelbar bevorstehend | I was about to leave when the phone rang. |
Hinweise
- Sehr häufig in der indirekten Rede: She said she would help.
- was going to zeigt oft einen geänderten Plan: I was going to study, but I watched a film instead.
- was to (formell) = es war geplant oder vorbestimmt: He was to become president.
Beispiele
- I thought it would be easier.Ich dachte, es würde leichter sein.
- They were going to get married in June.Sie wollten im Juni heiraten.
- She told me she was leaving on Friday.Sie sagte mir, sie würde am Freitag abreisen.
- We were about to give up when we found it.Wir wollten gerade aufgeben, als wir es fanden.
- I didn’t know she would be there.Ich wusste nicht, dass sie dort sein würde.
Typische Fehler
- ✗ He said he will come.✓ He said he would come.Nach einem Verb der Vergangenheit wird will zu would.
- ✗ I knew she is going to win.✓ I knew she was going to win.Nach einem Verb der Vergangenheit wird going to zu was going to.
- ✗ I thought it will rain.✓ I thought it would rain.Eine Vorhersage in der Vergangenheit steht mit would, nicht will.
- ✗ She said she will have finished.✓ She said she would have finished.Nach einem Verb der Vergangenheit wird will have zu would have.
- ✗ They said they can come.✓ They said they could come.Nach einem Verb der Vergangenheit wird can zu could.