Mentioned That You Would Be Going To- Correct Usage
What "Mentioned That You Would Be Going To" Actually Means
You stumbled on this phrase and now you're not sure if it's correct. Let me save you the confusion: "mentioned that you would be going to" is grammatically valid
But the real question is when and why you'd use it.
This construction combines two things: the past reporting verb "mentioned" and a future-in-the-past clause using "would be going to." It's not wrong—but most of the time, you probably don't need it.
When This Construction Works
This phrase appears when you're talking about someone's past prediction about a future event. The speaker is looking back at a moment when someone predicted something that hadn't happened yet.
Example: "She mentioned that you would be going to London next week."
This tells us: at some point in the past, someone said something about your future travel plans. The "would be going" part signals the event was still ahead at that past moment.
Why Most Writers Overuse It
Here's the thing—most of the time, you're better off with simpler alternatives:
- "said you were going to" — same meaning, fewer words
- "told me you would go to" — cleaner
- "mentioned your trip to" — more direct
The longer version isn't wrong. It's just unnecessary complexity for most contexts.
Common Mistakes With This Construction
Mixing Tenses Incorrectly
People often write "mentioned that you would go to" instead. That changes the meaning. "Would go" suggests intention or willingness. "Would be going" suggests arrangement or scheduled plan.
Would go: "She mentioned you would go to the meeting." (She suggested you intended to attend.)
Would be going: "She mentioned you would be going to the meeting." (She referred to your scheduled attendance.)
Unnecessary "Would Be"
Sometimes you don't need the progressive at all. If you're reporting a simple prediction, "mentioned that you would go to" works fine.
How To Use It Correctly
Follow this pattern:
- Subject + mentioned + that + pronoun + would be going to + action
Practical examples:
- "He mentioned that she would be going to the conference next month."
- "She mentioned that I would be going to meet the clients alone."
Quick Comparison: Similar Constructions
| Construction | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| mentioned that you would go to | Past prediction of intention | When emphasizing someone's choice or willingness |
| mentioned that you would be going to | Past prediction of arrangement | When referring to scheduled or planned events |
| said you were going to | Past statement about future plans | When the subject is "you" — avoids awkward "would" |
When to Skip This Entire Construction
If you're writing for the web, cut it. Readers don't need this level of grammatical complexity. Plain statements win every time.
Instead of: "John mentioned that we would be going to launch the product next quarter."
Write: "John said we're launching the product next quarter."
Same meaning. Half the words. Better flow.
The Bottom Line
"Mentioned that you would be going to" is correct. It's not a mistake. But it's also not always the best choice. Use it when you're discussing arranged plans someone predicted in the past. For everything else, simplify.