Metkagram
EN RU

B2–C1 · GFA · GFA007

Subject + had been going to + infinitive, but + past clause

Explanation

A reusable frame from “Time and aspect”. Compare how English and German express time and aspect. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

Structure

EN · EnglishSubject + had been going to + infinitive, but + past clause
DE · GermanSubject + hatte(n) vor, zu + infinitive, aber + past clause

Anchor phrase

RU · Translation

Я собирался позвонить, но телефон разрядился.

EN · English

I had been going to call, but my battery died.

DE · German

Ich hatte vor, anzurufen, aber mein Akku war leer.

Try variations2 · more examples

  1. RU · Translation

    Мы собирались идти пешком, но начался дождь.

    EN · English

    We had been going to walk, but it started raining.

    DE · German

    Wir hatten vor, zu Fuß zu gehen, aber es fing an zu regnen.

  2. RU · Translation

    Она собиралась подать заявку, но срок уже истёк.

    EN · English

    She had been going to apply, but the deadline had passed.

    DE · German

    Sie hatte vor, sich zu bewerben, aber die Frist war bereits abgelaufen.

Pattern graph

Continue with nearby patterns

GFA009Subject + was/were to have + past participle, but + past clauseGFAGFA003Subject + had been + -ing + for a duration + when + past simpleGFAGFA010Subject + have/has yet to + infinitiveGFAGFA006Subject + was/were about to + infinitive + when + past clauseGFA