grammar · formal

Be + to + V (express official plans / instructions)

Band 7+task2speaking

Used for official plans, scheduled arrangements, or formal instructions (e.g. 'He is to start tomorrow').

Examples

“He is to begin the training next Monday.”

“All staff are to attend the meeting at nine.”

“She was to become the next director, but plans changed.”

Band 8 sentence

“All overseas visitors are to register with the university administration upon arrival.”

Collocations

  • is/are to + base verb
  • was/were to + base verb

Common mistakes

She to start tomorrow.→She is to start tomorrow.

He is to go tomorrow (meaning: he will probably go).→He is going to go tomorrow / He will go tomorrow.

Say it for a higher band

5Will / be going to→6be scheduled to→7+be + to + V

Synonyms

be scheduled to

Easily confused

Be going to / Will

“The team is going to launch the campaign next month.”

Related words

By the time + clause, clauseWhether + clause (or not)So + adjective + that + clauseEven if + clause, clauseSuch + (a/an) + noun + that + clauseIf + past perfect, would have + past participleOn the one hand + clause; on the other hand + clauseGiven that + clause, + clause

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In Complex sentences

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