Hey there! This is TOP episode 298. Past of WILL
You read English. You understand English. You’ve been learning for years, but when it’s time to speak—your mind just freezes, and the words don’t come out. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I’ve been exactly where you are. I’m Ola Mierniczak, and this is the Teacher Ola Podcast. I’m here to help you finally speak out loud—the words, the ideas, the English that have been stuck in your head for too long. This isn’t about perfect grammar or fancy vocabulary. This is about your voice. Your words. Your real English.
Have you ever said something like “You told me you will help” — and it just didn’t sound quite right? You’re not alone.
Today, we’re diving into one of the most common grammar traps English learners fall into: the past of “will”. It’s sneaky, it shows up in everyday conversations, and most people get it wrong — even after years of learning English.
In this episode, I’ll show you exactly why this happens, what’s missing from your practice, and how to finally get it right — naturally, automatically, and confidently.
Just before we get into grammar… Listen. I know you have language apps installed on your phone. I know you know why you have them. You think: “oh, if I just expand my vocabulary and work a bit more on my grammar, I will feel ready and confident enough to start speaking English”. Stop. This is madness! The more you grow your knowledge the more overwhelmed you are. I know this sounds crazy but I see this all the time!! When people start to notice the difference between will, going to, present continuous, present simple for future they start to speak much much slower. They slow down because they start to overthink things!!! You are overwhelmed with all the knowledge in your head. You have to let it go. How? There’s one way. You need to automate the whole process. Speaking process. You need to practice your grammar and your vocabulary in a well structured conversation class. And I don’t like the word ‘class’. Because a class, a lesson is a situation in which you are a learner. You sit and listen and learn but I do it differently. I don’t teach English. I organize a space in which you can practice speaking. I listen to you, give you feedback and plan and structure your next speaking session so that you can automate those same structures you got wrong. For example, talking about the future. I give you materials, you watch things or listen to things and then during the speaking session you do the talking. 14 July, Monday, this is the day of your first speaking session with me and 3 other people. 4 people in a group. You speak with a partner and then you change your partner throughout the whole 60 min session. You speak for 50 min. I listen, I make notes, I share them with you later. And it works! And that’s not it! 50 min, once a week doesn’t sound like enough practice. So I want you to stay in the loop. I mean contact me and the group every day in a WhatsApp group. Every day you practice your speaking skill and every day I share my feedback. I fix your pronunciation, your grammar, and your vocabulary. The whole program lasts 5 weeks. It’s called Voice Loop. Join Voice Loop by completing a form at teacherola.com/voice. And one more thing. If you’re still here, if you listen to me now, if you understand what I’m saying that means Voice Loop is for you. Your level is perfect. Join us at teacherola.com/voice.
Now, let’s get to today’s episode. Past of WILL.
“You told me you will come”?
Let’s talk about why that sounds off and how to fix it.
Okay, let’s talk about something that many English learners know in theory… but still get wrong in practice. Especially in conversations. Especially when you’re trying to speak fluently and naturally — and especially if you’re Polish, because I’ve heard this mistake again and again from students, clients, even really advanced speakers.
And it’s this little sentence:
“You told me you will come.”
Or:
“I didn’t know you will be here.”
Now, here’s the thing. I get what you’re trying to say. It’s 100% understandable. But — and this is a big but — it’s not correct. It sounds off. People feel it, even if they don’t analyze it. It’s like saying, “I go to the shop yesterday.” It’s understandable but clearly wrong.
So What’s Going On?
Let’s rewind for a second.
When we talk about the future, we use “will.” Easy.
I will call you tomorrow.
They will arrive at 5.
You will love this movie.
Simple, right? Future promises are expressed with ‘will’.
But what if you’re not standing in the present? What if you’re telling a story about the past — something someone said or thought back then?
This is where many people get confused.
Because from your perspective, you’re still thinking about the future.
But grammatically, you’re standing in the past.
And in English, when you shift into the past, “will” becomes “would.”
Let me say that again because this is the whole point of this episode:
In reported speech or past thoughts, “will” becomes “would.”
It’s the Past of “Will”
Yes — weirdly enough, “would” is the past form of “will.”
Not because it looks like a regular verb (it doesn’t), but because that’s how English deals with time shifts. It’s a grammatical thing.
Let’s look at it in action:
NOW: She says, “I will help you.”
PAST: She said she would help me.
Boom. That’s it. She said → past. So “will” becomes “would.”
Same with this one:
NOW: He says, “I will be late.”
PAST: He said he would be late.
So going back to our original mistake —
You told me you will come.
You told me you would come.
Feels better, right?
Why is this a problem?
Honestly? Because it’s not that obvious unless someone points it out to you.
Most grammar books do teach it… eventually. But they call it things like “backshifting” or “sequence of tenses in reported speech,” and by the time learners get to that part of the textbook, their brains are already half-asleep. (I don’t blame them.)
Plus, let’s be real — this construction doesn’t come up much in multiple-choice grammar tests. It only becomes a problem when you’re actually speaking. When you’re having a real conversation, telling someone what someone else said, and trying to sound fluent and natural.
And this is the part I want to shout from the rooftops:
If you don’t speak, you don’t automate.
If you don’t automate, you don’t use this grammar correctly. Even after 10 years of studying.
You can do a hundred grammar exercises. You can pass every test. You can read about “will” and “would” until your eyes fall out.
But if you don’t say it out loud, again and again, in real conversations, your brain just won’t grab it fast enough when it needs to.
And you’ll keep saying “I didn’t know you will be there.” Or “He told me he will come.”
Or “They promised they will help.”
And guess what? That one little error — just one word! — can make your English sound less natural, less fluent, less confident.
And that’s frustrating, because you do know the rule. You’ve seen it. But knowing is not the same as using.
So, what can you do?
Simple (but not easy): you need to speak more.
You need to hear yourself saying these things:
I didn’t know she would be there.
He said he would call.
We thought it would be easier.
They promised they would help us.
Over and over. In conversation. In mini-stories. In retelling what happened yesterday.
You need to make this structure feel as natural as breathing.
So when your brain wants to say “will,” your grammar filter goes:
Nope! We’re in the past, friend. That’s a “would.”
This little grammar point — the “past of will” — is one of those things that seems small. And in a way, it is. One word. Just one change. But getting it right instantly changes the feel of your English. It makes your stories smoother. It makes your conversation more fluid.
And the more you practice this in speaking, the more natural it will become. If you need solid speaking practice, join Voice Loop, go to teacherolacom/voice and apply for your spot, I’ve got only 4 of them.
Time to practice! Listen and repeat out loud:
You told me you would come.
He said he wouldn’t be able to join us.
Did she say she would help you with the project?
They promised they would explain everything.
I didn’t think it would take so long.
Did you know they would arrive early?
We thought it would be easier.
You said you wouldn’t call me that late again.
She told me she would meet us at the café.
Why did he think it would be funny?
And hey — before we wrap up…
You need to speak, mess up, get feedback, and speak again.
That’s how fluency happens — by creating a loop. A VoiceLoop.
That’s exactly what my 5-week program is all about.
You join a group of four. You speak every week for 50 minutes. I listen, give you feedback, and support you daily in our WhatsApp group where we exchange voice messages. It’s speaking practice that sticks — because you stay in the loop.
Your first session is Monday, July 14.
Want in? Go to teacherola.com/voice and join the loop.
And don’t forget — there’s a free worksheet waiting for you at teacherola.com/298. You’ll find all 10 sentences from today’s episode and space to practise them at your own pace.
That’s all for today. Thanks again for listening! I’ll see you in the next episode. I believe in you—you’ve got this!So stay fearless, take care, and say it out loud! I’m Teacher Ola, and you’ve been listening to the Teacher Ola Podcast.
Bye for now!