que iba a

that … was going to

→ que

phrase Very common #867

that … was going to Used before an infinitive to express a future action viewed from the past. The verb changes with the subject: que iba a, que iban a, que va a.

SP: No sabía que iba a llover.

EN: I didn't know it was going to rain.

Yo dije que iba a ayudarte.

I said I was going to help you.

Prometió que iba a cambiar pero siguió haciendo exactamente lo mismo.

He promised he would change, but he continued doing exactly the same thing.

¿No que iba a venir tu vieja?

Wasn't your mom supposed to come?

— Rudo y Cursi (2008)

Nadie sabía que iba a renunciar al trabajo tan de repente.

Nobody knew that he was going to quit his job so suddenly.

Nunca hubiese imaginado que iba a tener hijos así.

I never would have imagined that I would have children like this.

— Tres son multitud (1998)

Yo dije que iba a presentarte a Nadia, ¿no es así?

I said I was going to introduce you to Nadia, didn't I?

— Diva (1981)

No pensarías que iba a quedarme para siempre, ¿no?

You didn't think I was going to stay forever, did you?

— Ratatouille (2007)

Pensabas que iba a esperarte?

Did you think I was going to wait for you?

— Chungking Express (1994)

¡Le dije a Billy que iba a hacer eso en mi juicio!

I told Billy I was going to do that at my trial!

— Chicago (2002)

Que iba a atraer al diablo por mi música.

That my music would attract the devil.

— Pecadores (2025)

Dijo que yo era una puta y que iba a matarme.

He said I was a whore and that he was going to kill me.

— Tesis (1996)

No, dijo que no estaba satisfecho y que iba a regresar al motel.

No, he said he wasn't satisfied and that he was going back to the motel.

— Psicosis (1960)

¿Tenías idea de que iba a haber un segundo auto?

Did you know there was going to be a second car?

— Drive: El Escape (2011)

Le dije a Alicia que iba a caminar.

I told Alicia I was going for a walk.

— El Campo de los Sueños (1989)

Ese auto no indicó que iba a girar a la derecha.

That car didn’t signal that it was going to turn right.

Que iba a buscarte porque tenías problemas.

That I was going to look for you because you were having problems.

— Escondido (2005)

Entonces yo no sabía que iba a casarme.

Back then, I didn't know I was going to get married.

— Vida solo hay una (2011)

Debí haberte dicho que iba a traer a alguien.

I should have told you I was bringing someone.