In English grammar, tenses play a crucial role in conveying the timing and progression of actions. While many of us are familiar with the present, past, and future tenses, there may be many of us who do not really know about the past future continuous tense. In this article, you’re going to learn the tense, explore its formation, usage, and significance in English communication.

1. Understanding the Past Future Continuous Tense

The past future continuous tense, also known as the future in the past progressive tense, is a grammatical structure used to describe an ongoing action that was expected to happen in the past at a specific point in the future. It combines elements of the past tense, future tense, and continuous aspect to paint a vivid picture of an event that was anticipated but had not yet occurred at a certain moment in the past.

2. Formation of the Past Future Continuous Tense

To form the past future continuous tense, one typically uses the past tense of the auxiliary verb “will” (would) followed by “be” and the present participle (verb + ing).

For example:
She said she would be waiting for us at the airport.
He told me he would be studying all night for the exam.

3. Usage of the Past Future Continuous Tense

You can use the past future simple for different situations:

3.1. Narrating Past Expectations

One of the primary functions of the past future continuous tense is to describe actions or events that were anticipated or expected to be ongoing at a specific time in the past. This tense adds depth to storytelling by providing insight into the speaker’s perspective at that moment in time.
Example: “At midnight last night, I thought to myself that by this time tomorrow, I would be flying to Paris.”

3.2. Conditional Statements at Present

When expressing hypothetical situations at present, the past future continuous tense can be used to convey the expected outcome if certain conditions were met.

Example:

If it were raining right now, they would be staying indoors.

If I were a millionaire, I would be traveling the world.

3.3. Reported Speech

When reporting someone’s words or thoughts from the past, especially the future continuous tense, you can use the past future continuous tense to convey the original speaker’s intention or anticipation.
Example:

Michelle said, “I will be driving to the countryside for the weekend.”

Michelle said she would be driving to the countryside for the weekend.

 

4. Time Signals for Past Future Continuous Tense

The following are the time signals we can use in the Past Future Continuous Tense:

1. Last night
2. Yesterday
3. Last week
4. Last month
5. Last year
6. At midnight
7. At 6 p.m. (specific time)
8. During the meeting
9. While watching TV
10. As we were driving

Past Future Continuous Samples

See the following past future continuous samples:

1. She said she would be studying late into the night.
2. We knew they would be traveling to Europe this summer.
3. He thought he would be attending the conference next week.
4. They promised they would be waiting for us at the airport.
5. I expected he would be cooking dinner when I arrived.
6. She hoped she would be finishing her project by tomorrow.
7. We assumed they would be moving to a new apartment soon.
8. He mentioned he would be working on his novel all weekend.
9. They suggested they would be exploring the city on foot.
10. I imagined she would be playing piano at this hour.
11. She anticipated she would be watching a movie tonight.
12. He predicted he would be running a marathon by next year.
13. They hoped they would be celebrating their anniversary abroad.
14. I expected she would be knitting a sweater for her niece.
15. She imagined she would be sunbathing on the beach right now.
16. We hoped we would be attending the concert together.
17. He mentioned he would be volunteering at the local shelter.
18. They anticipated they would be renovating their house soon.
19. I assumed he would be cycling in the park this afternoon.
20. If he were a scientist, he would be conducting groundbreaking research.
21. If we were professional athletes, we would be training rigorously for the upcoming competition.
22. If I were a musician, I would be composing melodies that touch people’s hearts.

The past future continuous tense stands as a testament to the versatility and complexity of language. Through its unique formation and usage, this tense enables speakers to articulate past expectations, hypothetical scenarios, and reported speech with finesse and subtlety. As language continues to evolve, the past future continuous tense remains a valuable tool for crafting vivid and expressive communication.

 

Past Future Continuous Exercises

 

Exercise I

Fill in the blank with the right form of  the past future continuous tense. Use the correct verb provided in the box.

buy   complete   enjoy   have   land   learn   present   relax   sail   travel

1. Last summer, she told her friends that by this time next year, she ____________ in Italy.
2. At the party yesterday, they discussed how by this time today, they ____________ a new house.
3. While watching the sunset last evening, he imagined that by this time tomorrow, he ____________ on a cruise ship.
4. During the meeting last week, she mentioned that by this time today, she ____________ her presentation to the board.
5. As they packed their bags last night, they joked about how by this time tomorrow, they ____________ on a tropical island.
6. When he woke up this morning, he dreamed that by this time tomorrow, he ____________ his dream job.
7. While walking in the park yesterday, they imagined that by this time today, they ____________ a picnic with friends.
8. During dinner last night, she talked about how by this time tomorrow, she ____________ a new language.
9. As they watched a movie last weekend, they imagined that by this time today, they ____________ a movie marathon.
10. While working late last night, he thought about how by this time tomorrow, he ____________ his latest project.

 

Exercise II

Complete the sentences to make a good  past future continuous tense in conditional statements. Use the correct verb provided in the box.

 

advocate  compose  conduct  cook   create explore  nurture paint   train  write

 

1. If she were a chef, she ____________ gourmet meals every day.
2. If they were astronauts, they ____________ outer space right now.
3. If he were a scientist, he ____________ groundbreaking research.
4. If we were professional athletes, we ____________ rigorously for the upcoming competition.
5. If I were a musician, I ____________ melodies that touch people’s hearts.
6. If she were a teacher, she ____________ her students’ potential every day.
7. If they were environmentalists, they ____________ for sustainable solutions.
8. If he were a writer, he ____________ captivating stories that inspire readers.
9. If we were chefs, we ____________ culinary delights from around the world.
10. If I were an artist, I ____________ masterpieces that evoke emotions.

 

Exercise III

Answer the following questions.

1. What were your plans for this time last year?
2. What did you anticipate you would be doing by this time tomorrow?
3. What would you be doing  at this time last weekend?
4. What did you imagine you would be working on at this time next month?
5. What activity did you envision yourself participating in by this time last summer?

 

Answers

Exercise I

1. would be traveling
2. would be buying
3. would be sailing
4. would be presenting
5. would be relaxing
6. would be landing
7. would be enjoying
8. would be learning
9. would be having
10. would be completing

 

Exercise II

 

Exercise III

Different answers are possible.

 

1. My plans for this time last year were that I would be traveling to Europe.
2. By this time tomorrow, I anticipated I would be relaxing on the beach.
3. At this time last weekend, I would be spending time with my old friends.
4. At this time next month, I imagined I would be completing a major project.
5. By this time last summer, I envisioned myself participating in a music festival.