Other Ways to Express the Future: be about to, be due to
Beyond will and going to, English has precise expressions for the near or scheduled future. At B2 these add nuance: how soon, how certain, or how officially planned something is.
Beyond will and going to, English has precise expressions for the near or scheduled future. At B2 these add nuance: how soon, how certain, or how officially planned something is.
The expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| be about to + infinitive | very near future (any moment) | The film is about to start. |
| be on the point/verge of + -ing | extremely near; on the edge of | She was on the verge of giving up. |
| be due to + infinitive | scheduled/expected officially | The train is due to arrive at 6. |
| be set to + infinitive | ready/expected to happen | Prices are set to rise. |
| be bound to + infinitive | certain/inevitable | He is bound to pass. |
Form mattersMost take the infinitive (about to leave, due to start), but on the point/verge of takes the -ing form (on the verge of leaving). “was about to” also describes a past plan that was interrupted: “I was about to call when you texted.”
Examples from EduCareer
- The new term is due to begin next week.
- Aisha was so nervous she was on the verge of crying before her test.
- With this much practice, Omar is bound to improve.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersMemorise which preposition or particle each expression uses, as a fixed chunk: about to + verb, due to + verb, but on the verge of + verb-ing. These are common in news and formal writing, so they boost your reading and writing scores.
Common mistakes
- She was on the verge of give up. → She was on the verge of giving up.
- The train is due to arriving at 6. → The train is due to arrive at 6.
- He is about leaving. → He is about to leave.
Practise with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."Quick, the film ___ start!"
any moment now → be about to.
2."The flight ___ depart at 14:00." (scheduled)
official schedule → be due to.
3."She was so upset she was on the verge of ___."
on the verge of + -ing.
4."With his talent, he ___ succeed." (certain)
inevitable → be bound to.
5.'be about to' is followed by:
about to + infinitive.
6.'be on the point of' is followed by:
on the point of + -ing.
7.Which is correct?
about to + infinitive.
8."Prices ___ rise next month." (expected)
be set to + infinitive.
9."I ___ call you when you messaged." (interrupted past plan)
past interrupted plan → was about to.
10.Which is correct?
due to + infinitive.
11."The company ___ announce results tomorrow."
scheduled announcement → be due to.
12."They were on the point of ___ the deal."
on the point of + -ing.
13."It's so cloudy — it ___ pour any second."
imminent → about to.
14.'be bound to' expresses:
certainty.
15."The results ___ be published on Monday."
scheduled → due to.
16."The new policy ___ take effect in June." (expected)
be set to + infinitive.
17."After months of stress she was ___ quitting."
on the verge of + -ing.
18."Don't worry — you ___ pass with that effort."
certainty → bound to.
19."Hurry — the bus ___ leave!"
imminent → about to.
20.Which expression is most 'official/scheduled'?
be due to = scheduled.
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