Mastering "Be About To": Your Complete Guide to Expressing Immediate Future Actions

Learn how to use this essential English structure to communicate actions that are just about to happen

Introduction

The phrase "be about to" is one of the most useful expressions in English for describing actions that are on the verge of happening. Unlike other future tenses that discuss distant plans or general intentions, "be about to" specifically indicates that something will occur in the immediate future – usually within seconds or minutes.

Understanding and mastering this structure will significantly enhance your ability to communicate timing and urgency in English, making your speech more natural and precise.

What is "Be About To"?

"Be about to" is a semi-modal construction that expresses the immediate future. It indicates that an action is going to happen very soon, typically within moments of speaking.

Structure Formula:

Subject + be (am/is/are) + about to + base verb

Quick Examples:

• • I am about to leave for work.
• • The movie is about to start.
• • They are about to announce the winner.

Grammar Rules and Formation

Positive Form

I am about to call my mother.

She is about to graduate from university.

We are about to board the plane.

Negative Form

I am not about to give up now.

He is not about to change his mind.

They are not about to cancel the event.

Question Form

Are you about to leave?

Is the train about to depart?

Are they about to make an announcement?

Important Notes:

• • Always use the base form of the verb (infinitive without "to")
• • The action must be imminent (happening very soon)
• • Cannot be used with time expressions like "tomorrow" or "next week"
• • Often accompanied by visible signs that the action will occur

When and How to Use "Be About To"

1. Immediate Actions

Use when something will happen within seconds or minutes:

• The bus is about to arrive. (You can see it coming)

• I am about to sneeze. (You feel it coming)

• The baby is about to cry. (Shows signs of distress)

2. Planned Actions Starting Soon

For scheduled events beginning immediately:

• The meeting is about to begin.

• We are about to start the presentation.

• The store is about to close.

3. Warning or Alerting

To warn someone about something imminent:

• Watch out! That glass is about to fall!

• Hurry up! The train is about to leave!

• Be careful! It is about to rain!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Incorrect Usage

I am about to go to Paris next month.

She is about to getting married.

We are about to went home.

He is about to will call you.

✅ Correct Usage

I am going to Paris next month. (distant future)

She is about to get married. (base form)

We are about to go home. (base form)

He is about to call you. (no double modal)

Comparison with Other Future Forms

Structure	Time Frame	Example
Be about to	Immediate future (seconds/minutes)	The show is about to start.
Will	General future/predictions	The show will start at 8 PM.
Going to	Planned future/intentions	I'm going to watch the show tonight.
Present Continuous	Arranged future	We're meeting at the theater at 7:30.

Practice Questions and Answers

Exercise 1: Complete the sentences

Question: The plane _______ take off. (Passengers are boarding)

Answer: The plane is about to take off.

Question: I _______ finish my homework. (Just one more question left)

Answer: I am about to finish my homework.

Question: They _______ announce the results. (Everyone is waiting quietly)

Answer: They are about to announce the results.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct option

Question: The movie _______ in two hours.

a) is about to start b) will start c) is starting

Answer: b) will start (distant future, not immediate)

Question: Look at those dark clouds! It _______.

a) is about to rain b) will rain c) is going to rain

Answer: a) is about to rain (immediate signs visible)

Question: She _______ her decision tomorrow.

a) is about to make b) will make c) is making

Answer: b) will make (tomorrow = not immediate)

Exercise 3: Transform to negative

Question: The concert is about to begin.

Answer: The concert is not about to begin.

Question: We are about to leave the party.

Answer: We are not about to leave the party.

Question: I am about to give up.

Answer: I am not about to give up.

Real-Life Applications

🚌 Transportation

• • "The bus is about to arrive."
• • "Flight 205 is about to board."
• • "The subway doors are about to close."
• • "We're about to reach our destination."

🏢 Work & Business

• • "The meeting is about to start."
• • "I'm about to send the report."
• • "The deadline is about to pass."
• • "We're about to launch the product."

🎬 Entertainment

• • "The movie is about to begin."
• • "The band is about to perform."
• • "The game is about to end."
• • "The show is about to start."

🏠 Daily Life

• • "Dinner is about to be ready."
• • "I'm about to go to bed."
• • "The baby is about to wake up."
• • "It's about to get dark."

Why Mastering "Be About To" is Essential

1

Precise Communication

It allows you to communicate exact timing, making your English more precise and natural-sounding.

2

Native-like Fluency

Native speakers use this structure frequently in daily conversation, so mastering it helps you sound more fluent.

3

Urgency and Warning

Essential for expressing urgency, giving warnings, and alerting others about immediate situations.

4

Professional Communication

Crucial in business settings for meetings, presentations, and time-sensitive communications.

Conclusion

Mastering "be about to" is a significant step toward achieving fluency in English. This structure fills a crucial gap in expressing immediate future actions that other future forms cannot adequately convey.

Remember the key points: use it for actions happening within moments, always use the base form of the verb, and ensure there are visible signs or clear indications that the action will occur immediately.

Practice using "be about to" in your daily conversations, and you'll soon find yourself communicating with greater precision and natural flow. The more you use it, the more instinctive it will become, bringing you closer to native-like English proficiency.

Continue practicing and improving your English skills!