§ 1. The Formation of the Future Indefinite in the Past

1. We form the Future Indefinite in the Past by means of the auxiliary verb WOULD and the Infinitive without the particle TO (the Bare Infinitive) of the main verb.

W OULD + TO-INFINITIVE

E.g. I would write the letter the next day.

She would read the book the next week.

In informal English we can also use short affirmative forms.

Full affirmative forms	Short affirmative forms
I (he, she, it, we, you, they) would work.	I (he, she, it, we, you, they)’d work.

2. In negative sentences we place the negative particle NOT after the auxiliary verb WOULD. In informal English we use short negative forms.

E.g. I would not/wouldn’t write the letter the next day.

She would not/wouldn’t read the book the next week.

Full negative forms	Short negative forms
I (he, she, it, we, you, they) would not work.	I (he, she, it, we, you, they) wouldn’t work.

3. In interrogative sentences (questions) we place the auxiliary verb WOULD before the subject.

E.g. Would I write the letter the next day?

Would she read the book the next week?

4. In negative-interrogative sentences (negative questions) we place the auxiliary verb WOULD before the subject and the negative particle NOT after the subject. In informal English we place short negative forms before the subject.

E.g. Would I not/Wouldn’t I write the letter the next day?

Would she not/Wouldn’t she read the book the next week?

Full negative-interrogative forms	Short negative-interrogative forms
Would I (he, she, it, we, you, they) not work?	Wouldn’t I (he, she, it, we, you, they) work?

§ 2. The Use of the Future Indefinite in the Past

The Future Indefinite in the Past denotes a future action viewed from the past. It also preserves other meanings of its use. The Future Indefinite in the Past is mostly used in indirect (reported) speech.

E.g. She said John would meet us at 7 there next Friday.

He informed us that the meeting would begin at 10 a.m.

THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS IN THE PAST

(THE FUTURE PROGRESSIVE IN THE PAST)

§ 1. The Formation of the Future Continuous in the Past

1. We form the Future Continuous in the Past by means of the auxiliary verb TO BE in the Future Indefinite in the Past (would be) and Participle I of the main verb.

WOULD BE + PARTICIPLE I (Ving)

E.g. I would be writing the letter at that moment.

She would still be reading the book at that time the next day.

In informal English we can also use short affirmative forms.

Full affirmative forms	Short affirmative forms
I (he, she, it, we, you, they) would be working.	I (he, she, it, we, you, they)’d be working.

2. In negative sentences we place the negative particle NOT after the first part (would) of the auxiliary verb TO BE. In informal English we use short negative forms.

E.g. I would not/wouldn’t be writing the letter at that moment.

She would not/wouldn’t be reading the book at that time the next day.

Full negative forms	Short negative forms
I (he, she, it, we, you, they) would not be working.	I (he, she, it, we, you, they) wouldn’t be working.

3. In interrogative sentences (questions) we place the first part (would) of the auxiliary verb TO BE before the subject.

E.g. Would I be writing the letter at that moment?

Would she still be reading the book at that time the next day?

4. In negative-interrogative sentences (negative questions) we place the first part (would) of the auxiliary verb TO BE before the subject and the negative particle NOT after the subject. In informal English we place short negative forms before the subject.

E.g. Would I not/Wouldn’t I be writing the letter at that moment?

Would she not/Wouldn’t she still be reading the book at this time the next day?

Full negative-interrogative forms	Short negative-interrogative forms
Would I (he, she, it, we, you, they) not be working?	Wouldn’t I (he, she, it, we, you, they) be working?