Exercises · Future from the past
Future from the past gap-fill
Type the correct form of the verb in brackets. Contractions (I’ve, she’s) and full forms (I have, she has) are both accepted.
Need a refresher? Review the rules in 5 Future from the past, 2.3 Promises and offers and 2.2 Future plans in our Verb Tenses in Business guide.
- Said, says or has said?
- Offers, intentions or fixed plans?
- Thought, expected, didn’t realise
- Is the offer still open?
- Mixed review
1. Said, says or has said?
‘Said’ looks forward from the past with ‘would’. ‘Says’ – and ‘has said’, when the offer is still open – take ‘will’.
Rules: 5 Future from the past
1The supplier said that the parts (arrive) by Friday.
2The supplier says that the parts (arrive) by Friday.
3Our CFO has said that she (review) the budget next week.
4I explained to the board that the new system (save) us around ten hours a week.
5Our biggest client always says that they (order) more if we cut our prices.
2. Offers, intentions or fixed plans?
An offer or promise (would), an intention that didn’t happen (was going to), a fixed arrangement (was meeting) or a timetable (started)?
Rules: 5 Future from the past
1I (call) you earlier, but I got stuck in a meeting.
2She left the workshop early because she (meet) a client at 4.
3We set off at 7 because the conference (start) at 9.
4He said that he (help) us with the presentation, so we set up a call.
5We (open) the new office in May, but the move has been postponed.
3. Thought, expected, didn’t realise
Predictions and expectations from the past – compared with what we think now.
Rules: 5 Future from the past
1We thought that the negotiations (be) difficult – and they were.
2We expect that demand (slow) down after the summer.
3We didn’t realise that the integration (be) so complex.
4I didn’t know that she (join) the call – it was a nice surprise.
5Analysts think that interest rates (fall) next year.
4. Is the offer still open?
‘He said that he would…’ or ‘He has said that he will…’?
Rules: 5 Future from the past
1They said that they (contact) us, but we haven’t heard from them yet.
2The IT team have said that they (fix) the problem by Monday.
3Our lawyer said she would check the contract, and her comments (be) very useful.
4I’ve told the client that I (send) them the minutes this afternoon.
5Anna (say) that she will do it instead, so I’m going to call her tomorrow.
5. Mixed review
All the forms together, in real business conversations.
Rules: 5 Future from the past
1I spoke to the investors yesterday. They said that they (get) back to us by Friday.
2They said they would get back to us, but we (not / hear) from them yet.
3She said that she (meet) a client, so she didn’t attend the board meeting.
4I’ve told her that I (send) her a summary of the decisions we made.
5We (launch) in March, but the regulator delayed the approval process.
Check a section to see your score here.
More practice
Correct on paper is not the same as natural in the boardroom
One-to-one Business English coaching for C1/C2 executives and founders.
Use the future from the past to discuss branding at the football World Cup with our reading lesson about the brands that really won the 2026 World Cup. Sometimes, what we thought would happen doesn't materialise. Use the future from the past to discuss Mark Zuckerberg's failed Metaverse dream in our advanced reading lesson.
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