Future in the past

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Silver Willow  #343748  Mon, 26 Mar 07 05:58 PM
Hello to you all.
Some days ago my English teacher confused me a bit with this subject. I had always thought that future in the past was made of "would" + base form of a verb.
Instead, she explained us that when thinking an action is still possible that happens, English uses the above-mentioned construction, but, when thinking something is no more possible that happens, English uses "would have" + base form of a verb. I'll give two examples:

1) "It's 11 o' clock. Doesn't Peter come?" - "He will be probably late. He said that he would come" (still possible).
2) Peter said that he would have come,  but he had to give up (no more possible).

So, just to clarify every doubt, is all that true?

Thanks in advance.

  
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Old Man Gordon  #343765  Mon, 26 Mar 07 06:35 PM

Regardless of possibility, I would usually use:

1.  Peter said he would come.  (Peter said "I will come." or "I am going to come".

2.  Peter said he was going to come.  ("I am going to come".)

In describing Peter's statement after the fact:, I would use your #2

Peter said that he would have come, but he had to give up. ("I would have come,...")

The situations are not only different, but Peter's direct statement is also different.

I hope this helps to stop the confusion.

  
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Silver Willow  #343772  Mon, 26 Mar 07 06:48 PM
Thank you so much. Smile [:)]
  
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