Le futur dans le passé
Pour parler de ce qui était futur vu d’un moment du passé, les formes du futur reculent : will → would, am going to → was going to, comme en français j’allais, il viendrait.
| forme | emploi | exemple |
|---|---|---|
| would | prédiction, promesse, discours indirect | I knew she would love it. |
| was / were going to | projet ou intention, souvent non réalisé | We were going to call, but we forgot. |
| was / were -ing | projet fixé | He was nervous: he was flying the next day. |
| was / were about to | quelque chose d’imminent | I was about to leave when the phone rang. |
Remarques
- Très fréquent au discours indirect : She said she would help.
- was going to indique souvent un projet abandonné : I was going to study, but I watched a film instead.
- was to (soutenu) = c’était prévu, ou c’était son destin : He was to become president.
Exemples
- I thought it would be easier.Je pensais que ce serait plus facile.
- They were going to get married in June.Ils allaient se marier en juin.
- She told me she was leaving on Friday.Elle m’a dit qu’elle partait vendredi.
- We were about to give up when we found it.Nous étions sur le point d’abandonner quand nous l’avons trouvé.
- I didn’t know she would be there.Je ne savais pas qu’elle serait là.
Erreurs courantes
- ✗ He said he will come.✓ He said he would come.Après un verbe au passé will recule en would, comme le conditionnel français il viendrait.
- ✗ I thought it will rain.✓ I thought it would rain.Après un verbe au passé comme thought, le futur will recule en would.
- ✗ They said they can come.✓ They said they could come.Après un verbe au passé, can recule en could dans le discours indirect.
- ✗ I was going to calling you.✓ I was going to call you.Après going to on met la forme de base du verbe et non la forme en -ing.
- ✗ She said she will have finished.✓ She said she would have finished.Après un verbe au passé will have devient would have.