Exercises · Future from the past
Future from the past: match the sentence halves
Read the endings in each section, then choose the right ending (A–E) for each sentence beginning. Look at the tenses as well as the meaning.
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
- Aand the figures proved me right.
- Bso we weren’t prepared for his questions.
- Cbut they turned up a week late.
- Dso expect her comments next week.
- Eso we can start production on Monday.
1The supplier said the parts would arrive on Friday, …
2The supplier says the parts will arrive on Friday, …
3I explained that the new system would save time, …
4Our CFO has said that she will review the budget, …
5She didn’t tell us that the client would join the call, …
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
- Aso we sent him the slides that evening.
- Bbut something urgent came up.
- Cbut the move has been postponed.
- Dbecause she was meeting a client at 4.
- Ebecause the conference started at 9.
1I was going to call you earlier, …
2She left the workshop early …
3We set off at 7 …
4He said that he would help us, …
5We were going to open the new office in May, …
3. Thought, expected, didn’t realise
Predictions and expectations from the past – compared with what we think now.
Rules: 5 Future from the past
- Aso it came as a real shock.
- Bit took twice as long as planned.
- Cbut we agreed terms in a single meeting.
- Dbecause they had already seen the numbers.
- Eand we actually hit €5.4 million.
1We thought the negotiations would be difficult, …
2We didn’t expect that the regulator would block the deal, …
3We projected that revenue would reach €5 million, …
4I didn’t realise the integration would be so complex – …
5I knew that the board would approve the plan, …
4. Is the offer still open?
‘He said that he would…’ or ‘He has said that he will…’?
Rules: 5 Future from the past
- Aand her comments were very useful.
- Bbut we haven’t heard from them yet.
- Cand she’s looking at it next week.
- Dbut he didn’t in the end.
- Eso I’m going to call her about it tomorrow.
1He said that he would review the contract, …
2She has said that she will review the contract, …
3They said that they would contact us, …
4Anna has said that she will do it instead, …
5Our lawyer said that she would check the terms, …
5. Mixed review
All the forms together, in real business conversations.
Rules: 5 Future from the past
- Aof the decisions we made.
- Bbut he has had to fly to our Singapore office.
- Cand sales were 20% above target.
- Dso she didn’t attend the board meeting.
- Eso let’s not chase them yet.
1Our IT director said he would set up the new system, …
2She said she was meeting a client, …
3I’ve told her that I’ll send her a summary …
4We thought the launch would be a success, …
5The client says they will sign next week, …
Check a section to see your score here.
More practice
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