It was two seconds before I did it / before I would do it (I didn't do it)

[Marika33]

Which should I use here, "before I pressed" or "before I would press"?

• I'd been typing a message for a long time and it was two seconds before I pressed/would press "Send" when the light went off and now, an hour later, that the light is on I have to type the whole thing again!

 

[Piscean]

I'd say neither. I'd probably say was going to.

 

[Marika33]

What do you think "was about to" would also work there?

• I'd been typing a message for a long time and it was two seconds <before I was going to press> <before I was about to press> "Send" when the light went off and now, an hour later, that the light is on I have to type the whole thing again!

 

[Marika33]

I'd probably say was going to.

+ What do you think of "would have pressed"?

• I'd been typing a message for a long time and it was two seconds before I would press I would have pressed "Send" when the light went off and now, an hour later, that the light is on I have to type the whole thing again!

 

[5jj]

What do you think "was about to" would also work there?

Not for me. 'About two seconds before' makes that redundant.

 

[5jj]

• I'd been typing a message for a long time and it was two seconds before I would press I would have pressed "Send" when the light went off and now, an hour later, that the light is on I have to type the whole thing again!

It's not impossible.

 

[Marika33]

Not for me. 'About two seconds before' makes that redundant.

What do you think of "I was to press" (without "about")?

Recently, I was watching a movie and my ears caught this line:

• The day before you and I were to go away, I received word he was alive, in a hospital in Berlin. I had to go to him.
  (They did not go away — just as in my example sentence: "I" did not press "Send")