What is the difference in the meaning between following sentences:
1. John was to have picked strawberries yesterday but the downpour made the field too muddy.
2. John was to pick strawberries yesterday but the downpour made the field too muddy.
(Source: modified example from BBC Learning English | BBC World Service
I've read in Learn English BBC that the form "was to" and "was to have" is used for past plan which wasn't fulfilled. But what I haven't understood is that these forms look similar to me. I'm in a dilemma which one (*was to*, or *was to have*) is used for past and which one is for unfullfilled past.
So, what are the differences between the constructions
- *was/were to* + infinitive
- *was/were to have* + past participle.
Please make it clear with examples ?
I would appreciate your helpfull answer.