THE FUTURE FROM THE PAST

GRAMMAR PRACTICE · B2–C1
INSTRUCTIONS: Complete the activities using the clues provided. Remember that we use these structures to describe future events from a past point of view.
QUICK GRAMMAR REMINDER

WILL → WOULD IS GOING TO → WAS GOING TO IS ABOUT TO → WAS ABOUT TO HAS ENVISIONED → HAD ENVISIONED

ACTIVITY A – COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets. The hints will help you choose the appropriate structure.

1. The developers believed that the new hotel... ...thousands of visitors. (attract – future prediction viewed from the past)
2. Las Vegas... ...a new era of entertainment when Elvis arrived in 1969. (about / enter – something imminent in the past)
3. The businessman... ...a resort that would become internationally famous. (envision – an idea formed before another past event)
4. Nobody imagined that Elvis... ...such an important part of Las Vegas history. (become – an unexpected future result viewed from the past)
5. The hotel... ...its doors when the city was experiencing rapid growth. (about / open – an event that was going to happen very soon)
6. They expected that the new entertainment complex... ...the city. (transform – a prediction made in the past)
7. Elvis... ...at the International Hotel for the first time in July 1969. (going to / perform – a past plan or intention)

ACTIVITY B – REWRITE THE SENTENCES

Rewrite each sentence using the words in brackets. Keep the original meaning. Type the complete sentence.

1. The developers believed the hotel would attract international visitors. (GOING TO – begin: The developers believed the hotel...)
2. Las Vegas is about to experience a major transformation. (WAS – change the present perspective to a past perspective)
3. He imagined that the resort would become world-famous. (ENVISIONED – use the past perfect form)
4. They expected the hotel to change the entertainment industry. (WOULD – begin: They expected that...)
5. The city is going to become a global entertainment destination. (WAS – use the past form of going to)

ACTIVITY C – SPEAKING PRACTICE

Complete each sentence using the words in brackets. The cues will help you organise your ideas and use the correct grammar.

1. In the 1960s, people probably didn't realize that Las Vegas... CUES: (would / become / world-famous / attract / millions of tourists) GRAMMAR: would + infinitive. Describe what people could not have predicted at the time.
2. When Elvis arrived in 1969, the city was about to... CUES: (experience / major transformation / become / entertainment capital) GRAMMAR: was about to + infinitive. Describe a change that was just beginning.
3. The developers had envisioned a city that... CUES: (offer / luxury and entertainment / attract / wealthy visitors) GRAMMAR: had envisioned + noun / that + would. Describe their original ambition.
4. Nobody could have predicted that Elvis... CUES: (would / become / cultural icon / influence / generations of musicians) GRAMMAR: would + infinitive. Describe the unexpected long-term impact of his career.
5. At the time, people believed that live entertainment would... CUES: (become / spectacular / attract / larger audiences / create / new opportunities) GRAMMAR: would + infinitive. Describe what people expected for the future of entertainment.
Your score will appear here.
TCR ENGLISH · GRAMMAR PRACTICE