Was/were going to

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Nightmare85

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
German
Home Country
Germany
Current Location
Germany
Hello English friends,
Is it possible to use was/were + going to?

Example 1:
Situation (now):
I'm waiting for someone and he calls me and says, "I'm going to come very soon."
Yes, he could also say, "I'm coming very soon", but let's say he uses version 1.
Situation (tomorrow):
I'm telling someone else the "story", and say:
I was waiting for my friend who was going to come with his new car.

Is it correct?
If not, would the only good version be:
I was waiting for my friend who was coming with his new car.
:?:

Example 2:
Situation (now):
Some guys say, "We are going to start a war very soon."
Situation (tomorrow):
You say, "Yesterday I met some guys who were going to start a war very soon."

Another option would be:
"Yesterday I met some guys who were starting a war very soon."

What do you think?

Cheers!
 

Allen165

Key Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2009
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Switzerland
Hello English friends,
Is it possible to use was/were + going to?

Example 1:
Situation (now):
I'm waiting for someone and he calls me and says, "I'm going to come very soon."
Yes, he could also say, "I'm coming very soon", but let's say he uses version 1.
Situation (tomorrow):
I'm telling someone else the "story", and say:
I was waiting for my friend who was going to come with his new car. Correct.
Is it correct?
If not, would the only good version be:
I was waiting for my friend who was coming with his new car.
:?:

Example 2:
Situation (now):
Some guys say, "We are going to start a war very soon."
Situation (tomorrow):
You say, "Yesterday I met some guys who were going to start a war very soon." Correct.

Another option would be:
"Yesterday I met some guys who were starting a war very soon." I wouldn't say that.

What do you think?

Cheers!

NOT A TEACHER.
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
Hello English friends,
Is it possible to use was/were + going to?

Example 1:
Situation (now):
I'm waiting for someone and he calls me and says, "I'm going to come very soon."
Yes, he could also say, "I'm coming very soon", but let's say he uses version 1.
Situation (tomorrow):
I'm telling someone else the "story", and say:
I was waiting for my friend who was going to come with his new car.

Is it correct?
If not, would the only good version be:
I was waiting for my friend who was coming with his new car.
:?:

Example 2:
Situation (now):
Some guys say, "We are going to start a war very soon."
Situation (tomorrow):
You say, "Yesterday I met some guys who were going to start a war very soon."

Another option would be:
"Yesterday I met some guys who were starting a war very soon."

What do you think?

Cheers!
Example 1: Both are correct.
Example 2:
"Yesterday I met some guys who said they were going to start a war very soon."
Your second sentence doesn't work well, even with the same qualification, "they said they were starting ..."

You don't know if they are starting/going to start a war at all.

 
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