Why here there is the word 'would' instead of 'will'

[Thinker]

Hi everybody. I don't understand why here there is the word would( instead of will)
They knew that there would be a very difficult dictation the next day.

Thanks in advance
Thinker

[Torsten]

Hi Thinker,

Your sentence refers to a situation in the past, that's why 'would' is used.

TOEIC listening, photographs: A snow storm

[Thinker]

[Hadeer]

Hi thinker,
I think because all the events are happened in the past ,so the relevant usage is “would be”, if the sentence is in the present (e.g., they know that …) then the relevant usage will be (there will be … instead of there would be ).
Best regard