Fiche à imprimer : Le futur dans le passé : was going to, would, was about to

Dans un récit au passé, comment parler de ce qui allait se passer ensuite ? L'anglais met simplement les formes du futur au passé.

Forme	Sens	Exemple
was / were going to + base	intention passée (souvent non réalisée)	I was going to call you, but I forgot.
would + base	futur dans un récit ou au discours indirect	He said he would come. / She knew she would succeed.
was / were about to + base	sur le point de	We were about to leave when it started to rain.
was / were to + base	destin (style littéraire)	He was to become president ten years later.
was / were + -ing	projet organisé dans le passé	She was leaving the next day, so she packed.

Au discours indirect

« I will help you. » → He said he would help me. / « I'm going to move. » → She said she was going to move.

Il a dit qu'il m'aiderait. / Elle a dit qu'elle allait déménager.

Dans un récit

Little did she know that this meeting would change her life. / He was to die two years later.

Elle ignorait que cette rencontre allait changer sa vie. / Il devait mourir deux ans plus tard.

Mise en situation : un projet tombé à l'eau

Mia : Weren't you going to spend the summer in Canada?

Tu ne devais pas passer l'été au Canada ?

Ben : I was going to, but my flight was cancelled. I was about to board!

C'était prévu, mais mon vol a été annulé. J'étais sur le point d'embarquer !

Mia : Oh no! The airline said they would refund you, I hope?

Oh non ! La compagnie a dit qu'elle te rembourserait, j'espère ?

Ben : Yes. And I didn't know it then, but that summer would be the best of my life: I met my girlfriend here!

Oui. Et je ne le savais pas encore, mais cet été allait être le plus beau de ma vie : j'ai rencontré ma copine ici !

À retenir

was going to = j'allais (intention, souvent pas réalisée).
would = futur dans le passé (récit, discours indirect).
was about to = j'étais sur le point de.
was to = devait (destin, style littéraire).

Exercice 1 : Le futur dans le passé : exercice 1 (QCM)

« J'allais t'appeler, mais j'ai oublié. »
1. I went to call you, but I forgot.
2. I will call you, but I forgot.
3. I was going to call you, but I forgot.
« Il a dit qu'il viendrait. »
1. He said he would come.
2. He said he comes.
3. He said he will came.
« Nous étions sur le point de partir. »
1. We were about leaving.
2. We were going leave.
3. We were about to leave.
« Il devait devenir président dix ans plus tard. » (destin)
1. He was to become president ten years later.
2. He must become president ten years later.
3. He had become president ten years later.
« Elle a dit qu'elle allait déménager. »
1. She said she is going to move.
2. She said she was going to move.
3. She said she goes to move.
She knew she ___ succeed one day.
1. would
2. is going to
3. will
« Je ne savais pas que ce jour allait changer ma vie. »
1. I didn't know that day will change my life.
2. I didn't know that day changes my life.
3. I didn't know that day would change my life.
He ___ leave when the phone rang. (sur le point de)
1. was about to
2. would to
3. was bound
« Ils devaient partir le lendemain, alors ils ont fait leurs valises. »
1. They will leave the next day, so they packed.
2. They leave the next day, so they packed.
3. They were leaving the next day, so they packed.
« I will help you » au discours indirect :
1. He said he will help me.
2. He said he helped me.
3. He said he would help me.

Exercice 2 : Le futur dans le passé : exercice 2 (à compléter)

I was .......................... to call you, but I fell asleep.
He promised he .......................... help me.
We were .......................... to leave when it started raining.
She said she was going to .......................... to Spain. (déménager)
He .......................... to become a famous writer. (destin)
I knew it .......................... be difficult.
They .......................... going to buy a house, but they changed their minds.
She told me she .......................... call back.
I was about to .......................... up when I found the answer. (abandonner)
Weren't you .......................... to visit your grandma?

Exercice 3 : Le futur dans le passé : mise en situation

Tu t'excuses : tu allais lui écrire, mais tu as oublié.
1. I will write to you, but I forgot.
2. I was going to write to you, but I forgot.
3. I went to write to you, but I forgot.
Tu rapportes la promesse de ton frère : « Je rangerai ma chambre ».
1. He promised he would tidy his room.
2. He promised he tidies his room.
3. He promised he will tidy his room.
Tu racontes que tu étais sur le point de partir quand ton ami est arrivé.
1. I was about to leave when my friend arrived.
2. I will leave when my friend arrived.
3. I was about leaving when my friend arrived.
Tu demandes à ton amie si elle ne devait pas aller à Londres.
1. Didn't you will go to London?
2. Won't you go to London?
3. Weren't you going to go to London?
Dans un récit : « Il ignorait que cette décision allait tout changer ».
1. He didn't know that this decision would change everything.
2. He didn't know this decision changes everything.
3. He didn't know that this decision will change everything.
Tu rapportes : « Elle a dit qu'elle allait démissionner ».
1. She said she is going to resign.
2. She said she was going to resign.
3. She said she would going to resign.
Dans une biographie : « Elle devait devenir la première femme pilote ».
1. She has become the first female pilot.
2. She must become the first female pilot.
3. She was to become the first female pilot.
Tu dis que vous alliez acheter une voiture, mais vous avez changé d'avis.
1. We were going to buy a car, but we changed our minds.
2. We will buy a car, but we changed our minds.
3. We went buying a car, but changed minds.
Tu racontes : tu savais que l'examen serait difficile.
1. I knew the exam will be difficult.
2. I knew the exam would be difficult.
3. I knew the exam is going be difficult.
Tu racontes que l'avion était sur le point de décoller.
1. The plane would to take off.
2. The plane was about taking off.
3. The plane was about to take off.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. c) I was going to call you, but I forgot. · 2. a) He said he would come. · 3. c) We were about to leave. · 4. a) He was to become president ten years later. · 5. b) She said she was going to move. · 6. a) would · 7. c) I didn't know that day would change my life. · 8. a) was about to · 9. c) They were leaving the next day, so they packed. · 10. c) He said he would help me.

Exercice 2

1. going · 2. would · 3. about · 4. move · 5. was · 6. would · 7. were · 8. would · 9. give · 10. going

Exercice 3

1. b) I was going to write to you, but I forgot. · 2. a) He promised he would tidy his room. · 3. a) I was about to leave when my friend arrived. · 4. c) Weren't you going to go to London? · 5. a) He didn't know that this decision would change everything. · 6. b) She said she was going to resign. · 7. c) She was to become the first female pilot. · 8. a) We were going to buy a car, but we changed our minds. · 9. b) I knew the exam would be difficult. · 10. c) The plane was about to take off.