Future in the past

It is used to express the idea that in the past you thought something would happen in the future. Future in the Past has two different forms in English: "would" and "was going to." "Would" is used to volunteer or promise and "was/were going to" is used to plan.

·         I thought you were going to be more intelligent.

·         I said she would be a good friend, but now, I can see that I was wrong.

To explain in a better way the future in the past, check this example:

In the past you said:

·         I will go to USA next year.

Now, in the present you say:

·         I thought I would go to USA. (Maybe you did not go or you did).