English Grammar – The future in the past – “Was/Were going to”

Hi, Alex, what’s up?
Thank you for your wonderful video class (and explanation). I’ve got a question, maybe you could help me to undertand it.

Let’s pretend a friend of mine tells me he is going with me to church. Using this verb as a main one, how can I use it in the past?

Let’s pretend a friend of mine tells me something like this: “I’m going to church with you”.

How can I say this same sentence in the past?

He told me he was going to church with me?
or
He told me he was going TO GO to church with me?
or BOTH?

Thanks again.
Bye for now.

Wenderson

First of all, I wanna thank Alex for this awesome video
Secondly, according to the sentence that Wenderson wrote sayin “I’m going to Church with you”
Well, that’s different coz this sentence is in present continuous tense where you guys are on your way to Church, so the sentence should be written this way ” I’m going to go with you to church” and if we want to make in the past ; ” I was going to go with you to Church” that’s all

Hi Wenderson,

You can use both. The difference is that in one sentence you are using the past continuous tense to talk about the future (“He told me he was going to church with me”), and in the other you are using the construction I talked about above. To me, the second sentence sounds a little better, and more common in my own experience.

Alex

Thanks Alex. I think we can use both but there are some differences in meaning. “He told me he was going to church with me” is only the past continuous tense and not talking about the future. Just like, “he told me he was eating when light went out yesterday”.Second one is correct to describe the future action in past. I am your student so hope you excuse me if i misunderstood.

Anup

I wasn’t gonna study 2day but i changed my opinion

kotoz

simple and meaningful.thanks

yahya

Hi Alex,

Could you tell me what is the difference between “Going to” and “Going to go to”. i can’t grasp it.
Looking to hear from you.

Thanks.

sandeep

Hi sandeep,

Good question!

The formula for using “going to” for future plans is this:

Subject + be + going to + base verb

You can say things like “I am going to see a movie,” or “I am going to stay at home this weekend.”

“I am going to go” is just another variation of this structure. You are using GO as the base verb. You can say something like “I am going to go to my aunt’s house tomorrow,” or “I am going to go to the library.”

In spoken word, many English speakers also use the following form:

“I am going to go see a movie.”

While this is technically grammatically awkward, it sounds natural and is accepted by native English speakers.

I hope this helps.

Alex

Hi Alex,
Thanks for telling me.

So you mean both sense are right. means we use “going to” in written whereas “going to go” in spoken English. is it right?

Hoping to hear from you.
Thanks.

sandeep

Hi Alex I have a question about your explanation

You wrote: “I am going to go see a movie”

Why not you put the verb “to” next to the verb “go”?
Can you omit the verb “to” in this case or you can add too?

Thanks in advance :D

Samantha

sorry “you can add it too”

Samantha

I wasn’t going to leave a Comment, but I found this Lesson with a question useful for me, so thank you Alex.

Good job.

aldammak

hi
thank you for this lesson

bader

I got 9 out of 10! Nice score but I want it perfect. hehe. I was confused with this because of the word “game”:

The game __________ be played at 1pm, but it rained, so they postponed the starting time.

I answered were going to instead of was going to. Anyway, thanks for a wonderful lesson Teacher Alex! :)

princesapple24

lol..same here apple…

korina

apple? you’re her boyfriend

Avril Lavigne

I got 9 out of 10
Thanks Alex it’s very helpful.

ammar

Thank you)))))))))

evgenya190586

very useful.,thank u.

sivasankari

Professor,
I’m a little confused on when i’m going to use “was” and “were”. Is it related on singular or plural subjects. Should i use was when i’m talking about a single subject? but “were” is also used in single subject like “i thought you were going to be there.”.. Thank you very much for helping us.
-Jeiami from the Philippines

jeiami

Dear Jeiami,
He + was
She + was
It + was
All others + were

aldammak

Hi jeiami,

It all depends on which subject you are using. Here are the rules for “was” and “were” depending on the subject:

I was
You were
He/She/It was
We were
They were

Good luck! I hope this helps!

Alex

Thank you Alex cuz I was lose too.
Carlos from Granada, Nicaragua.

Carlos

Hi Alex,
I would know if I can substitute this form “I was/were going…” with conditional form, for example: “I should have called you but I forgot”. Is it the same or is it wrong?
Thanks a lot

610seiunozero

Your sentence is correct, but it has a slightly different meaning. “I should have called you” shows regret about the past, while “I was going to call you” shows an intention or plan you had in the past, but that you did not act on.

Alex

Great lesson Alex.
I have a question:
What’s the difference between ‘I was to’ and ‘I was going to’? They seem to be almost the same. Perhas I was to is old fashioned because I run across it in books.

LM555

Hi Juan,

“I was to” is not common in everyday speech, and the only example I can think of where you would use it is in formal situations or literature. For example:

“I was to call her early the next day.”

In this case, “I was to” shows that the person had an obligation to call. It’s similar to saying “I was supposed to call her the next day.”

“I was going to call her” shows a past intention or plan, and has a slightly different meaning.

I hope this helps.

Alex

Hello Ronnie,

Thanks a lot for your video’s. I have a quick question about “use of haven’t”. Could you please explain me?

Many thanks

Shekar

Hey Alex. One more question: What’s the difference between WILL and GOING TO?

Rey - Brazil

That’s a big question, so I will try to give you a compact answer. :)

“Going to” is used for set plans in the future. You use it to talk about things that are likely to happen, or that you are very certain of.

“Will” is used to make predictions about the future, or when you make a decision at the moment. For example:

“Do you want to see a movie tonight?”
“I have some work to do at home first, but okay, I will be there!”

Alex

hi thanks for the lesson its really helpfull.make learning more fun…:)

naira

hi teacher Alex;
I scored 10 out of 10 thanks alot,I appreciate your help…..

shahen

Not a problem! Congratulations on your quiz score!

Alex

Hello my friend , my browser can not show the video , can you help me ?
thanks a lot

tabkom

Hi! Check if you can see other Youtube videos; if not, it might be blocked where you are, or you might need to install the Flash plugin.

engVid

Hi!
Can you guys provide a lesson about the parameters we should fellow to choose a good bilingual dictionary.

raheem

The oxford dictionaries. Actually I think that you were going to make a good purchase, obviously from english into your language and veceverse.

polo1954

Alex .. i like your way in teaching especially in grammer lessons .. god bless u ..

i have a problem and i need to help
the problem is in using past perfect, present perfect and future perfect.. can you made a lesson in those subjects as Comparison ..

and what is the time that we should to write or speak in past perfect, present perfec..and future perfect ..
thanks and have a nice night sir ..

toleen

thanks so much , Teacher Alex ,i really got a great benefit of you in this subject and i like the way you teach and your speech can be understood for all

thanks…

alsulaiman1988

thik you for that i love this

123456r

Hi Alex
your teaching was great !
thank you

amer

hello alex
how are you…i hope you are very well
thank you for this videos and i am grateful to your hard work

fathy from egypt

Hi Alex,
I like it very much you’re great teacher who explains simply

Haidy

good question for me
i can learn for my exam
thanks

crizndutz

Thank you so much…what a great service you are rendering to us-the second language strugglers!
Abundant blessings to you from the Almighty Creator!

elunet

Thank you for your interesting lecture. I found your website today and I have decided to be your student till now.

Hamed

Alex, you’re great ! My listening have been improving since I heard you. And this lesson was very good ! Thank you !

Raulo

Thanks Alex for the nice Video lesson.
Regards

Massood

10 out of 10 like usual :-) thanks once again Mr. Alex for great efforts.

Massood

Thank You Sir For This Great Lesson.

Javed Ahmed

Can I say ‘I am going to come to your house/your country/the party’?

Lakshitha

Hi Alex first of all i want to say thanks to Engvid.
I want to download this videos for future purpose.Could you please help me..

Balaji

hello sir Alex,i really appreciate your way in teaching grammar,thanks u so much ,and i hope one day you will going to talk about tenses ,it’s an issue for us,because english is our third language

abdel

Mr. Alex you are the best
thanks for this lesson it’s very usefull :)

mh320

Hi there alex i have a question to u that is
When should we use so and too
Example(am so hungry? or am too hungry?)

mujaheer

this structure seems to be a little bit similar to reported speech….isn’t it Alex?? thanks

cristina

Dear Teacher Alex,

Thank you so much for your help. I scored 10 out of 10!

Aini

Tanks Alex
I’m really find help in your lessons, and my English was improved.
your are gentle teacher

Sallam

ur marvellous teacher

maryam

thanks

irfan355

Thanks Alex I will practise everyday

Abcandomore

I really don’t know how to thank you .
Mohamed

Mohamed

Alex, thanks fot this lesson…

mikeyes2011

you are great,please give me some information about a good book to read

salle

I finally found a great internet english course for free!!!!

piancci

thank

mariam

i got the perfect score.. hehe.. i thought i didn’t understand… but, i understand… hehe… tnx.

regina

Thank you Alex.
I was planing to get the full score, but I missed 2 points!
That is because I thought that this is so easy!

lu46

Thanks Alex for THIS lesson . I have a question “could I use a semicolon instead of however between independent clauses ?

leelian

I have six faults=)

Thanx dear teacher!!!!(***)

monila

Dear Sir,
thank you for your worndeful video & Explanation. sir please can you help me regarding english spelling problems.last 4 year i am try to corret my spelling but it ont work out so please can you help me
thnks

Daniel

syalalala….got 9 point :))) not bad, I will work harder ::))
Thanks for the lesson Alex ::))

cristal99

i learned a lot by studing ur lectures. thnxxxx

ali

I scored 9 out of 10.

khalid

thank you teachers so much

khalid

Thank u for ur lessones .I got a good mark
lol

Angela

thanks

anouar

Thank you for your lessons.

God Bless you for being a great teacher.

from Granada, Nicaragua

Carlos

Sao Pulo, Monday 2nd May 2011
Hi there
My name is Edson and i live in Sao Paulo Brazil i have been studying English
to improve my knoledgement.
However i have some doubts about
Past perfect tense.
Please guys send me some examples.
Thank you for while.
May you have a fantastic week.
Warm Regards.
Edson

Edson

nice video.. i like the way you explained the the future in the past.. it helps me a lot.

chandresh

thank you teacher for everything

serra

thank you teachers for everything

serra

Thank you so much i learn so much thanks for helping :)thanx

salma

hi Alex, I just had known the phan in the future. And with your lesson I have known the future in the past. thank you so much!

november611

dear sir!
i was thought my english is terrible but now i am doing better sir

thanks to you sir…

VICTOR

thank you very much teacher Alex. it was very interesting and understandable for me. i couldn’t understand before this grammar. but in this lesson there isn’t quiz(test) above. i enjoy your lesson quiz after i watched your lessons. and thanks a lot. i wish you good luck.

naraa

hello Alex,
Im learned easy and understand clear.
Thanks a lot….

chaarm

Hi, Alex
I listen to you everyday because you (and your collegue)have an american accent, no british accent,so sometimes I get lost and I don’t understand “any” steps of your speech, but I can understand the meaning of it, that is very useful for me because I need to learn (for my job) american accent, thanks. But I wanna do a question…. Why do the English teachers in the world continue to teach grammar rules? In this way when we (pupils)speak we always think at the rules ….present perfect…no, present perfect continuous….now I have to put “any” (because negative sentence)….yes but it’s interrogative sentence with “would” so I have to put “some” no “any” ….little no few or very fewer ecc. We (pupils) won’t speack fluenty but in hiccup way. I answer corretly at all your questions on test-quiz, without knowing any rule (I made it before to look your video). So my suggest is… we should learn english like a baby who doesn’t know any rule but he can speaks corretly when you go at the first elementary school, how?? listenig his parents, his brothers, his friends, listening everybody and relate with them. Sorry, it wasn’t my intention to teach someone something, I just wanted to exchange some opinions. Let me know something and sorry for my english.

Bye from Italy

610seiunozero

I agree with most of what you said. Let’s see what Alex says…

engVid

Hi 610seiunozero! I would like to react to your comment. Yes, it’d be super not to learn any grammatical rules and just learn a language by “intuition” such as babies… but to be honest I don’t think it can work and I explain you why! I’m French and I live in Italy since 10 years. Before coming in Italy, I could speak a little Italian but I’ve learnt most of the things living here. As I see it, living in a country is the easiest way to learn a language (you have no choice, to be understood you have to speak and listen!) but don’t delude yourself if you think it’d be enough! If you don’t learn and understand rules, you always speak an approximated language. Of course, you’d able to speak and be understood by others, but you’ll never speak like natives ones. Even if you do mistakes, no one corrects you! (because they don’t want to offend you , because they understand so that’s enough for them, because they don’t care or because they themselves don’t speak well!!!) If I tell you that last week, I’ve “discovered” a new Italian grammatical rule after 10 years living here!!! (10 years of mistakes!!!! OOOOPS!) For the babies, it’s a different story. They are “new” and not conditioned by a language and a way of thinking! Their brains are new and ready to learn everything. I’m a mother of a 5-years-old boy and for my son it’s a complete different story than for me. I’ve always spoken to him in French and his father in Italian. Now he’s completely bilingual. He can speak fluently the both languages without any problem and in a very natural way. I’m sure that within few years he’ll speak better Italian than me! I am also sure that even if I speak fluently Italian I could never be bilingual as my son. (for example, I’m still not able to do a multiplication in Italian, I have to calculate in French!!) But for the rules that you always need to think about, don’t worry! That’s true, that at the beginning you hesitate, you need to think about… (and not in a very natural way !) but that’s normal! Your brain need to be used at a new way of thinking with a logical different from your normal ones. The important thing is to learn the rule at least one time. (and of course to understand it!!) and little by little, when you’ll see the rule in different contexts (film, book…) without even thinking about it, you’ll understand and the most important thing, you’ll memorize it and be able to use later it without problems! More you study the rules, (and exceptions!!) better you’ll understand the logical and better you’ll speak after!! (nearly as a native one!) I’m not a teacher, I just wanted to share my experience. I’d be glad if you’d let me know what you think about my way of thinking!!! Bye.
Milly
P.S. Who is the “zero” one?! (610?) :)

milly

Wow, you were so brief!

englishstudent

I know! Brevity has always been my strong point… :)

milly

Hi there,
U’ve shared ur profitable experiences as well.Lots of tx.
Best of luck!

fatiima8

Thanks Fatiima for your nice comment! Even if I think now that the day I wrote my comment I was a “little” out of mind… My comment seems more a book than a comment!! ;) Thanks anyway!!! All the best to you!

milly

Hi Milly,
I’d like your comment very much and it was very useful to me really thanks for sharing this rich information i’m living in turkey now and i’m confused about what is the best way to learn language and use it as a native speaker
can you help me and give me an advice like notes to follow according to your experience,
thanks in advanced

bishry

How can I know is it you in the last question one person or more?
Is not it possible that the answer can be “is going to” if there is only one person?

Aleksandar

yeaah I got 8 of 10 !! thats good!! isn’t it???

roua

Hi~!!!your explain is good to me. i’ve been studing english but It’s difficult to me that how to speak english . but I will do my best!!

sunghee seo

Thank you for knowledge. see ya

haihui

thank you Mr Alex for this helpful podcast

younes

I am begineer English student. I am wonder, that helpful web page to learn this important and necessary Idiom. Thanks to all teachers, the classes are perfect.

Maria del Pilar

I’am a Filipino and I’m really willing to learn more about English language/grammar rules and everything. This topic is very interesting and I hope that more lessons to post and examples. thanks for this site I really like it. thanks also for sharing your knowledge to all of us. more power and God bless as will.

vince

I like very your all lessons

Raj

Hi people and all the teachers, you are the best . I love english and like to see your videos on you tube.
I would like to say Hi teacher Ronnie! nice to meet you.

paulo37

Mr.Alex, thanks fot this lesson…

N.V.Chary

Thanks Alex for you time

doe

Thank you
you helped me a lot
keep going :)

AlAnoud

Oow !
ıt was my fırst full little quiz. ı was always failed the exams. but that time was different thanks alex it was awesome with your explanation!
you good man :D

muttalip

thanks Alex
you helped me alot

zeinab88

Thank you Alex!

edyta28

Thank you, Alek. You are very good teacher. Your explanation is very easy for understanding.

Lek

hi Alex, i love the video and the way you teach. it s help me lot to explain to my students. i m a new comer. i have some questions related to the future in the past.what is the different between “was/were+going to” and “would” in the future in the past?when we use “would”? how about “should” can it be used for future in the past?
looking to hear from you

tiyut from indonesia

tiyut27

you are great guys! very good job and for free!
im from greece and im preparing for proficiency in november!

dimitra

Hi Alex, I am from Saudi and you lesson was so helpfull for me
thanks

turkia

hi Mr.Alex
i m a new student here, i like ur teaching, i got many knowledge about english here…
thank u very much…

hijrah

thank you very much
i need more practice yea because i get 6 out of 10

ibrahim magale

thanx for your valuable help.IT cleared my doubts

shashi

can we say :
you promised us that you would do something?(in the future of the past?)??

Omar alkaisi

tsss nice lesson, it was very helpful, thanks a lot!

valentin30

Sorry Mr Engvid for the lenght of the message!! I haven’t realized that it was so long!! OOOPPPS! :)

milly

thanks alot MR ALEX .

duaa

Hi Teacher Alex, I scored 10 out of 10. Thanx a lot for your wonderful lesson! However, I’ve some doubts about the perfect tenses. Would you please explain the difference between the present perfect and the present perfect continuous;the past perfect and past perfect continuous and lastly the future perfect and future perfect continuous.And please send me an example of each. Thank you very much in advance..God bless..

Chat

first of all i’d like to thnk Mr.Alex !hope you doing well . I still lerning some base points which can help me to bring up my self . Thank u for ur wonder speechs . have great days .

chenna rao

hi alex
thx for your excellent pictorial presentation……i think every one can understand this video ….thx a lot.
but i have one problem it is very shame to me.i can’t remember selling of english words. please tell me which way i have to prates to remember the spelling of words
am waiting for your response ………..urs Naveen from INDIA

gadigenaveenkumar

I will follow all your vid ….I really appreciate your effort!

Bushra

Hi Alex I`m from Brazil, was a pleasure to meet you again on the internet.I have ever been studied with you in Montreal just alf two months ago in A.L.I, you are a skil teacher grammar in my opinion, tank you for this lesson,but I`m going to study more. I hope a answer you.

Belinassi

Hi my favorite teacher Mr. Alex,
i offer you sincere thanks a lot to open my eye. i want to know is there any differences between UK and USA English in pronunciation and grammar? Kindly solute me.Best of luck.

asraf

Don’t we write the last sentence like “You promised that you were going to help me TO study”?

juliange

hai alex.u r classes very nice.i under stand u r classes easily……….thank u……….

durga

I think your lesson is very useful.I like it.Thanhk you so much.Trung from VIetNam

phan thanh trung

this is the great video! thanks for your lesson!

thanh

Thanks Alex so much!I like the way of your teaching,I think,i learn more some of time,my english can be improve to the best!!!!

lnguyen

He alex that was great lesson, I just recently realized that my english was so poor for work particularly in grammar ,and verily find an Engvid is awesome.

Sigito

thanks Alex for this lesson.
I was going to give this website adresse’s to my freind,but i forgot.

azeddine81

Good!

nuriyya

First of all thank you very much! Could you please clarify usage BIG and LARGE. Many thanks.

Igor

Hi Alex.
Thanks for all your useful lessons.
I have some problems in using “future in the past” .
For example when I wanna say
“before I got here, my supervisor had emailed me and told me that he … come to the airport to pick me up, but I replied that I… already asked the pick up service of the uni to pick me up” I don’t know which tenses I should use in the gaps!
I guess it shouldn’t be was/were going to. Am I right?

Manda

hi teacher alex, thank you for this wonderful and very informative video.:)

shirley

Iam going to learn english in school but iwas going to study in english vidio

mohamed eltahir

Thanks, Alex. Your explanations are very logically and I like it.
Could i ask a little confusing question? For example, you said that you are going to visit your friend in two days. But you come earlier, i.e. next day, and you are going to explain this situation.
“I was going to visit you tomorrow, but I have arrived today”. Is it right or wrong?
Thank you

gairat1973

love it..!!!

michelle

hi sir,
this video really helped me. thank u so much.

sojirosa

Hello!! Alex you are good teacher.

Bounlom

Thank you Alex, your lessons better.

Edgar

I have some broblem with this.

______ you _________ tell us?

Was you going to…
Were you going to…

Why is firs answer is wrong? I think with I we need to use Was.
Thank you.

Edgar

Thank you a lot Mr Alex , you are so good teacher ,,,,

Redrose

hi Alex!
I’ve a question… the “FUTURE IN THE PASST” could be used in other types of future? thanks…

Gaby

thanks a lot

aiman

hello alex, i have a couple duoubts: why in the two last questions i cant use the word was? because the correct answer start whit were you going to… and the last were going to

i hope you can help me. tanks

victoryaesmeralda

hello alex!! i think you are great teacher, and this lesson is very useful.. but i would like to learn about future perfect, future perfect continuous and future continuous, i am a little confuse.. i hope you can help me..

Thanks..

yhanmary

hi alex
i m in canada,and want to improve my english what shuld i do ?
do you have esl centre?

anjum

thx sir it’s amazing

FFA

am question Alex what is de different between yet and still; could you explain to me. i am a student the low level and my english it is not so good.

vill

i am sorry i wrote a mistake in the first comment. i wanted to write ” i have question. i expect that you understad me.

vill

thanks sir

Am new for this video lesson,wow it is amezing thanks for all techers

Dear Alex, I am very weak of in English, but I got 10 out of 10! thank you for your wanderful video lesson.

Ramzan Hosen Bhuia

What is the correct way: church is me and you or church are me and you?

Cris Smedley

Perfect Alex!! thanks

Leo

thanks you save me

Alexduve

thanks Alex for this wonderful lesson.

raj

Hi teacher
I would like to ask you about the grammar for this sentence:
I thought you were going to call me, but you didn’t!

It should need a connector between “I thought” and “you were…..?”

Baqer

who in this world is Alex??? I don’t know him… I want to be his friend =)

Estrella

I love this class!

Mary

I’m happy because you are a big help for me!!! Thanks!

Mary

Thanks Alexitow!

Mary

very useful video on english,many days thought how to talk future in past..even got tired of thinking thanks a lot alex…..

sathaya

you r doing job wall .i want to study with u with skype is is possible

salman

I can’t find the words to thank you.
Haiti

salomon pierre

Thank you Alex For your lesson.
Good Job.

ocampo1963

Which is correct?
‘Normalcy’ or ‘Normality’

Nithya

What is the difference between wiil and shall?
Which sentence is correct?
“I will call you at 8pm”
“I shall call you at 8pm”

Nithya

Hi Alex,

Which correct verb shall be used in this sentence?

The loss of his jobs was/were a big blow to his family.

Thanks,

Oiram

oiram

thanks you are the best

stefania

Hi Teacher! Thanks for your explanation on… talking about future in the past. You always explain the classes in an easy and direct way!

I love to learn with you, you´re a good teacher! :)

violet37

hi ronnie,one day at the store i had heard this man asking his friend .’are finish to buy? is it right?..in my oppinion seems like its not correct..am i correct with my sentences?thank alot..

dEm

Teacher, what part of speech is this highlighted?

I want >to go< but I can’t

Wendy

The way Alex is teaching on engVid, its really very easy to understand it, thanks to made this learning easy with your great effort.

I had also seen many idioms lesson, and wishing few more idioms lesson from Alex.

Tejas

thank you Alex you are my best online teacher , good luck

doctor4ever

THANK YOU,Alex!!! I’ve got 10 score!!! It means your explanation was perfect!!!

Ademi

Thanks!

manolo73

Thanks Alex,another great lesson!

manolo73

hello teacher !you are so ,greatful for me i guess so! Actually i am not a qualify person but i am really intrest in english this is the hobby of my real life and i am going to learn english as much as i long .thank you so much and just read my comment i don’t know it is right or wrong .

vishnu

Hello, Alex… I´m confused in sth….
You said that this is talk about about things that were planned but never happened… So there is one example in you video “I always knew you were going to marry” and it actually happened… so the rule was broken about failed things that we planned in the future ???? I’m confused… can you explain that one to me… thanks!

Nataly Barrios

In other examples Alex has included ‘but’
But it didn’t happen..

pintuk

Hı Sir
Thank you so much for all your lessons but would please explain me how can ı know when (you) is plural or single in a phrase for expl. the 2 last phrases in the quiz

Tunisian

I have a question, I know the Topic is was/were + going to, but can we use another verb in gerund, and If we can use it, what kind of verb it would be??

Carlos

the sentence is ” I saw him pass by my house yesterday” does it mean ” I saw him going past by my house yesterday”?

sarah_sm

That’s correct!

Alex

Well done :) I like the way you teach.

REA

HI, its very useful for me Thanku sir…!

rishabh

hi, Alex! When you say ” was going ” and when “went”. The bought are on past tense but when you use it?

adic

And what about the use of “would” for the future in the past..?

Luca

and what about the future in the past by using “would”?

luca

That’s also possible.

Example:

“I believed/thought/felt that he would run over me!”

Alex

Can I say “She said He would be going to call” instead of “She said He was going to call”?
In other words can I use “Future Continuos-in-the-Past” instead of “Was/Were going to”?
Thanks in advance =)

droneva

Hi in my opinion we will not use like that .‘I am going to’ is similar to ‘will’ but ‘i was going to is not equal to ‘would’.
she told me they would win but they didn’t

pintuk

Thank you Alex.
Quite bloody example.. :-)
(sorry for my question repetion, unintentional..).

Are there any significant differences between the two uses?

Luca

Can somebody help?
What’s the difference between “it” and “this”. I mean when and how do we use them?
It is a book vs this is a book, whats the difference?

Ihsan

Hi i think both are correct.Here book is an object it,this can be used to represent such an object.
What is this? This is a book
What is it? It is a book

pintuk

Thanks so much

Erika

Excelent lesson Alex, thank you very much

argenis

awesome sir,thank you so moch

raja

wow…..i liked your explanation alex, yet i have to teach it to MEXICAN students, hence it becomes WAY more, i wouldn´t say harder just more challenging. cuz of that whole past in the future in the past….that is confusing on its own…but thanks, cool vid bro!

erik

Actually a heve a problem in using past tense..when i use was/were and when i use past verb..”i played football yesterday or i was play football yesterday..

Richard

Hi..In my opinion
‘I am going to’ is similar to ‘will’
Therefore the past tense of ‘I am going to’ is ‘I was going to or You/They were going to’..This one is based on a future plan in the past,which is different from ‘i played football yesterday or i was playing(play+ing–continuous action ) football yesterday.
Regards

pintuk

would tell me how to use thought and tohgh

syam

I enjoy your explanations about “was/were going”. Thank you!

RAC

i got perfect score!! tnx sir alex…

andy24

Thank you Alex for the excellent lesson. Cheers!!

pafsilipoclub

Hi,Every One I from india I have just registerd on this webside I working in BPO and i just improve my US & Uk english acccent is there any lesson it will help me to my english accent.

Pandit Gurav

I got 8 points, but I have a doubt if the negative or affirmative answer change the result.
I mean that the answer in negative can be as correct as affirmative because we are making a test of tenses.

polo1954

wowwwww I got 100,,greatttt,,Thanks sir Alex,,,,:)

sundu

Thank you Alex. I really learn from this.

raaid

Thank you Alex! Is this correct Are you going to be finished with your report by Friday? Thank you.

larysa6165

I got 100 so it is simple and very nice. By virtue of my excellent teacher Alex. Thanks so much for Alex.

Ali

Very useful lesson I took today.
One more time Thank u so much my great far… far… teacher.
I have no money to pay an English course( here in Brazil is very expensive).I’ve always taken English class by myself through the books,magazine and I never had a teacher.
But now when I can go to the Lan house I watch engvid my virtual school.It’s amazing.

Edilson

Hi Alex
Thanks for your video, I got 9 correct out of 10. I have a question here.
What if I want to express my thought in the past and the thought would happen in the future? For example ,in the present, I’m talking to my B friend about a letter that my A friend said he/ she will call B friend (future plan). But A hasn’t called B. So I’m not sure whether A would call B. I believed in the past and I have no idea now. ( A didn’t say what time will he/ she call. Maybe A might call later but we don’t know.)
The time line is like: [4pm] A said to me; [9pm, in the present, now] I’m talking to B.

Does the sentence “I thought A is going to call you (B)” make sense?

Because it’s not the case that I were A, I don’t know whether A forget or not. Probably A doesn’t forget, it’s just because B and I don’t know when A will call. In your video, the examples you gave almost describe the thing should haven’t/ have been done in the past and the thing did/ didn’t finish- all are in the past.
I think “I thought A was going to call you” is more like… I’m telling B that I believe A was just saying and I’m sure that A won’t call. Is it right?

Clair

I’ve never thought this would so much esay.. I appreciate that. Thank you!

Temelakiev

thanks very much

Ndomban

I’ve got perfect score. thank you so much.

Bel Linwood

Happy Sunday everyone, I answered 3 quizzes this morning and I’ve got perfect score. I love EngVid.

Bel Linwood

very good lesson,but I have one questions to quiz number 3.The verb after going to is past smple .Why.

ALEX THE GREEK

HI ALEX I UDERSTAND YOU PERFECTLY BUT I WAS LITLE CONFUSED WITH THE SUBJECT YOU I WAS THINKING YOU IS SINGULAR NOW I KNOW YOU IS PLURAL I AM ONLY MIXED TWO CUESTIONS THANKS

juansegura

Alex I perfectly understood the lesson on second chance do 100 per cent thanks I am having a better understanding of the english language.

juansegura

hi Alex please let me know difference between past continuous and past future cause the structure is same and I got confuse

ashkbo

Thank you for the lesson! I enjoyed so much!

Nadia Vivanco

You are a lifesaver.

Iamhere.

I got 80 %. Thanks.

alpido24

Thank You very much MR ALEX.

mohy tahon

Thank you, Alex.
I wasn’t going to sleep last night because I had to prepare a presentation. However, I slept since 8pm.

Koichi

Ha ha, i going to learn it or NOT?

Nguyen Dai An

It’s a joke :D

Nguyen Dai An

Excellent your explanation, Alex. Thanks.

Manuel Guevara

thanks

Eliame

Present Continuous with a Future meaning.

Could you talk about this tense?

I need to learn that, really. Thanks in advance.

Sonia1234

Hi, alex! Your lessons are very useful to us. Thanks!
I would ask you a question about the difference between “going to” and “will”. How should I use these two terms?

DanielBrasil

Thanks!!!

Edinho

Thanks

Ferrante

Thank you Sir.

mardy

I was going to see you at my dream last night so I slept but you didn’t come
What happened

Manolya

Hi Alex,

Could you tell me what is the difference between “Going to” and “Going to go to”. i can’t grasp it.
Looking to hear from you.

Thanks.

Chhelpanha

thank you for helping struggling people like us, Alex

lesedi

Thank you very much!

Vivimi

very nice

dudalapenda

Thanks alex, I got 9 out of 10

Tarik rahmouni

Thanks Alex was great

Leandra Mianutti

I got 9 out of 10. I thought I was going to have less than that. thanks for your help.
I did not know about this tense.

trozo

Thanks Alex was great

SUKRUT JAIDEE

Thanks for all Alex… excellent video

AlexisSegovia

Héhéhé 10/10 !! you rock Alex !!! thank you !!!

Jarednomak

Hi Alex,

Thank you for your videos. It helped me. In the parties or when we go out with friends. I feel very awkward with my stupid English. I won’t answer properly for their questions. Very good English speaking is my life ambition. I lost so many friends because I won’t speak or share my feelings. I will practice each and every quiz. Thank you..

Avani y

What is the difference in meaning?
I’m going to call you at 8 pm.
I’ll be calling you at 8 pm.

mustafa.91

Thank you for your lessons..
She is going to get married next week .or she is going to be getting married..which one is correct

Santhosh85083

Thanks Alex.

Alex-1956

Thank you Alex for your really helpful lesson, I liked it and I did the quiz but I got just 9 correct out of 10.

bouchrachreba

Hi Alex,perfect explanation.
could you make some videos on similar topic for example sentencies like this:

“If I had known this was coming ….”
“There was no chance I was waking up in the morning”

I understand the meaning but what would be the difference using other tenses:

“If I had known this was going to come/would come ….”
“There was no chance I was going to wake up/would wake up in the morning”

thanks

patrikm

Awesome , I got 100 points out of 10 in first time tried. Thanks

thunguyen3

I got 100 points out of 10 in first time tried. Thanks

thunguyen3

Hey Alex,
thanks for wonderful lessons, by the way, I’m interested in helping Engvid to translate your videos.
Please, tell me how to make a contact with Engvid.
Best regards :)

Milunovic

Hi, Milunovic!

You can add subtitles to engVid videos by clicking the gear (⚙️) icon in the lower right corner of the video, beside the CC button. Click on “Subtitles/CC” in the settings menu that comes up, and there should be an option to add your own subtitles. Here’s a picture of where the option is. For more details, see this help article.

engVid Moderator

I got 10 out of 10 :) i love your video

json27

thank you very much Mr.Alex

Aml Mounier

That video was great Mr. Alex. Thanks a lot.

Jose Guoz

amazing good teacher forever

shrreya

Hi Alex I am Emmy from Indonesia. It is good to see you by this video. I do hope by this video can really help me in my english skill. It is very useful for me. But my main problems in english is about grammer and tenses. Do you have any suggesstion how I am going trough?