The Future in the Past ("Was going to")
To describe an action you intended to do or an event that was scheduled in the past ("was going to"), pair the past tense of كان (to be) with a future tense verb. Build this structure using the conjugated past tense of كان followed by the future prefix سـ attached to a present tense verb.
| I was going to travel, but the weather worsened suddenly. | كنت سأسافر، لكن الطقس ساء فجأة.kuntu sa'usâfiru, lâkinna ttaqsa sâ'a faj'atan |
| The tree was going to fall because of the storm. | كانت الشجرة ستسقط بسبب العاصفة.kânati ash-shajaratu satasqutu bisababi al-'âsifah |
Subject Agreement
Both كان and the main verb must agree with the subject in gender and number.
| We were going to attack suddenly, but the weather worsened. | كنا سنهاجم هجوما مفاجئا، لكن الطقس ساء.kunnâ sanuhâjimu hujûman mufâji'an, lâkinna t-taqsa sâ'a |
| They (f.) were going to go to the market, but the heavy rain poured. | كن سيذهبن إلى السوق، لكن المطر الغزير هطل.kunna sayadhhabna ilâ as-sûqi, lâkinna al-matara al-ghazîra hatala. |
Using سوف instead of سـ
You can also use the separate future particle سوف instead of the prefix سـ. It carries the exact same meaning, but is written as an independent word between كان and the main verb.
| My brother was going to travel, but the storm ruined the plans. | كان أخي سوف يسافر، لكن العاصفة أفسدت الخطط.kâna akhî sawfa yusâfiru, lakinna al'âṣifata afsadati alkhuṭaṭa |
| She was going to walk in the thick mud, but she feared the lightning. | كانت سوف تمشي في الطين الكثيف، لكنها خافت من البرق.kânat sawfa tamshi fi al-tini al-kathifi, lakinnaha khâfat mina al-barqi |
Interrupted Plans
Because this structure describes things that were going to happen but didn't, it is frequently paired with conjunctions like لكن (but) to explain the interruption—such as sudden bad weather ruining plans.
| The match was going to start, but it was postponed due to the heavy rain. | كانت المباراة ستبدأ، لكنها تأجلت بسبب المطر الغزير.kânati al-mubârâtu satabda'u, lâkinnahâ ta'ajjalat bisababi al-matari al-ghazîr |
| The girls were going to arrange a festival, but it was postponed and the rain ruined everything. | الفتيات كن سيرتبن مهرجانا، لكنه تأجل وأفسد المطر كل شيء.al-fatayâtu kunna sayurattibna mahrajânan, lâkinnahu ta'ajjala wa'afsada al-mataru kulla shay'in. |
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