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Colorfulratio Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Which form is correct and why?

She was appointed manager when she was 25 and she
was to be/was to have been manager up to her death at the age of 66.

The point is, when do we use "was to be" and when "was to have been"?

Thanks
  

Top answer

She was appointed manager when she was 25 and she was to be manager up to her death at the age of 66. Let's assume she was appointed in 1965 and died in 2006. The writer is speaking as if he were in 1965.

— Clive

  • She was appointed manager when she was 25 and she was to be manager up to her death at the age of 66.
  • Let's assume she was appointed in 1965 and died in 2006.
  • The writer is speaking as if he were in 1965.
  • From that point of view, he is forecasting the future by telling us what will happen in the next 41 years.
  • Consider this simpler example.
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2 Answers
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She was appointed manager when she was 25 and she
was to be manager up to her death at the age of 66.

Let's assume she was appointed in 1965 and died in 2006.

The writer is speaking as if he were in 1965. From that point of view, he is forecasting the future by telling us what will happen in the next 41 years.
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colorfulratioShe was appointed manager when she was 25 and she was to be manager up to her death at the age of 66.
She was still manager when she died at age 66. (She continued to be manager until she died.)
colorfulratioShe was appointed manager when she was 25 and she was to have been manager up to her death at the age o
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