Be About To: A Powerful Way to Express the Immediate Future in English

August 05, 2025 Post a Comment

Introduction

Learning English often involves more than just memorizing vocabulary or grammar rules—it’s about mastering expressions that native speakers use in everyday situations. One such phrase is “be about to”. Although it looks simple, this expression is a valuable tool for expressing events that are just about to happen. This article explores the meaning, grammar, usage, and nuances of “be about to” so you can sound more natural and fluent in both spoken and written English.

What Does “Be About To” Mean?

The phrase “be about to” is used to describe something that is going to happen very soon—often within moments. It is a way to express the immediate future with a sense of urgency or expectation.

Examples:

I am about to leave the office.
She is about to cry.
They were about to start the meeting when the power went out.

In each case, the speaker is indicating that the action is on the verge of happening.

Grammatical Structure

The expression follows this basic structure:

[Be] + about to + base verb

Where “be” changes depending on the subject and the tense.

Subject	Form of “be”	Example
I	am	I am about to eat.
You/We/They	are	They are about to leave.
He/She/It	is	She is about to call.
Past tense	was/were	We were about to win the game.

⚠️ Note: The verb after "about to" is always in bare infinitive form (the base verb without “to”).

When Do We Use “Be About To”?

Here are the most common contexts where “be about to” is naturally used:

1. To Describe an Imminent Action

Used when something will happen in the next few moments.

The train is about to arrive.
I am about to make an important announcement.

2. To Build Suspense in Stories

Writers often use “be about to” to create dramatic tension.

Just as he was about to speak, the phone rang.

3. To Show Interrupted Intentions

Sometimes, the action doesn’t actually happen, but was close to happening.

She was about to say yes, but changed her mind.
I was about to reply, but then I lost signal.

4. To Make Warnings or Urgent Statements

This is especially useful in emergency or alert situations.

Watch out! That glass is about to fall.
Hurry! We are about to miss the bus!

How Is It Different from “Will” or “Going to”?

While all three express the future, “be about to” is used for immediate actions, whereas “will” or “going to” might refer to the near or distant future.

Expression	Example	Implied Timing
Be about to	I am about to sleep.	Very soon (any second now)
Going to	I am going to sleep.	Soon, but not immediately
Will	I will sleep later.	At an unspecified future time

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using the wrong verb form
- ❌ I am about to going to school.
- ✅ I am about to go to school.
Forgetting to adjust the form of “be”
- ❌ She about to cry.
- ✅ She is about to cry.
Using it for distant future
- ❌ We are about to visit Paris next year.
- ✅ We are going to visit Paris next year.

✅ Tip: Use “be about to” only when the action is just around the corner.

Practice: Complete the Sentences

Fill in the blanks using the correct form of “be about to”:

I __________ (leave) when you called.
They __________ (start) the presentation.
She __________ (cry) after hearing the news.
We __________ (eat) dinner when the lights went out.

Answers:

was about to leave
are about to start
is about to cry
were about to eat

Real-Life Examples

"The kids are about to open their gifts!" (holiday excitement)
"I was about to text you when you called me!" (surprising timing)
"Look at the clouds! It is about to rain." (weather prediction)

Conclusion

The phrase “be about to” may seem like just another grammar structure, but it’s an essential tool for expressing urgency, drama, and immediacy in English. Mastering this phrase will help you communicate more effectively and naturally—whether you’re telling a story, giving a warning, or simply talking about your next move.

SIRHARI