English grammar
Future in the past: said (that) …would… + when / until / as soon as + past simple
Report someone's earlier plans: she said she'd wait until we arrived.
From the scene He said that when he got there…
In short
When you report a plan, will becomes would and the time clause moves to the past simple: she'd wait until we arrived.
Your turn
Which one goes with would + until + past simple?
Options: he said he'd pick us up when we came out · she said she'd wait until we arrived · that as soon as we landed, I should call her
Show answer
would + until + past simple → she said she'd wait until we arrived
How it works
You already know that will becomes would when you report a plan.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
No. She said she'd wait at home until we (blank). With arepas.
Options: will arrive · arrived · would arrive
Show answer
No. She said she'd wait at home until we arrived. With arepas.
No. Dijo que nos esperaría en casa hasta que llegáramos. Con arepas.
Good to know
The time clause moves back too: present becomes past simple. "I'll wait until you arrive" → she said she'd wait until we arrived.
Good to know
Never put would in the time clause: until we would arrive is wrong.
reported instruction + as soon as + past that as soon as we landed, I should call her
Javi
That as soon as we landed, I should call her. And I have.
Que en cuanto aterrizáramos, la llamara. Y ya la llamé.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). And I have.
Options: She said she'd wait until we arrived · He said he'd pick us up when we came out · That as soon as we landed, I should call her
Show answer
Javi
That as soon as we landed, I should call her. And I have.
Que en cuanto aterrizáramos, la llamara. Y ya la llamé.
would + until + past simple she said she'd wait until we arrived
Your turn
What goes with she said she'd wait until we arrived?
Options: would + when + past simple · would + until + past simple · reported instruction + as soon as + past
Show answer
she said she'd wait until we arrived → would + until + past simple
would + when + past simple he said he'd pick us up when we came out
Javi
My dad. He said he'd pick us up when we came out of customs.
Mi papá. Dijo que nos recogería cuando saliéramos de aduanas.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
My dad. (blank) of customs.
Options: He said he'd pick us up when we came out · That as soon as we landed, I should call her · She said she'd wait until we arrived
Show answer
Javi
My dad. He said he'd pick us up when we came out of customs.
Mi papá. Dijo que nos recogería cuando saliéramos de aduanas.
promised + when + past simple … would he promised that when he got there, he'd text me
Javi
Twice. And he promised that when he got to the airport, he'd text me.
Dos. Y prometió que cuando llegara al aeropuerto, me escribiría.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Twice. And he promised that when he got to the airport, (blank).
Options: I should call her · she said she'd wait until we arrived · he'd text me
Show answer
Javi
Twice. And he promised that when he got to the airport, he'd text me.
Dos. Y prometió que cuando llegara al aeropuerto, me escribiría.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| reported instruction + as soon as + past | that as soon as we landed, I should call her |
|---|---|
| would + until + past simple | she said she'd wait until we arrived |
| would + when + past simple | he said he'd pick us up when we came out |
| promised + when + past simple … would | he promised that when he got there, he'd text me |
More lines from the story
- JaviNo. She said she'd wait at home until we arrived. With arepas.No. Dijo que nos esperaría en casa hasta que llegáramos. Con arepas.
- Javi...The door of the airport in Bogotá....En la del aeropuerto de Bogotá.
- NuriaAnd is she coming to pick us up?¿Y viene ella a recogernos?