Metkagram
EN RU

B2–C1 · GFA · GFA008

Subject + was/were to + infinitive + later-time expression

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 + was/were to + infinitive + later-time expression
DE · GermanSubject + sollte(n) + ... + infinitive

Anchor phrase

RU · Translation

Правду мне предстояло узнать лишь годы спустя.

EN · English

I was to learn the truth years later.

DE · German

Ich sollte die Wahrheit erst Jahre später erfahren.

Try variations2 · more examples

  1. RU · Translation

    Им предстояло снова встретиться следующей зимой.

    EN · English

    They were to meet again the following winter.

    DE · German

    Sie sollten sich im folgenden Winter wiedersehen.

  2. RU · Translation

    Этому решению предстояло изменить её жизнь.

    EN · English

    This decision was to change her life.

    DE · German

    Diese Entscheidung sollte ihr Leben verändern.

Pattern graph

Continue with nearby patterns

GFA006Subject + was/were about to + infinitive + when + past clauseGFAGFA009Subject + was/were to have + past participle, but + past clauseGFAGFA002It was the first time + subject + had + past participleGFAGFA010Subject + have/has yet to + infinitiveGFA