grammar · neutral

be about to + base verb

Band 7+speakingtask2

used to say something is going to happen very soon

Examples

“I am about to leave.”

“She was about to call when he knocked.”

“The concert is about to start.”

Band 8 sentence

“I was about to submit my application when I realised I'd missed a crucial document.”

Collocations

  • be about to + base verb
  • be about to happen

Word family

am/is/are about to + V phrasewas/were about to + V phrase

Common mistakes

I will be about to leave.→I am about to leave.

She is about leave now.→She is about to leave now.

Say it for a higher band

5going to→6will→7+be about to + base verb

Synonyms

be on the point of + V-ing

Easily confused

be on the point of + V-ing

“She was on the point of giving up when she found a solution.”

be going to + base verb

“I'm going to move next month.”

Related words

have / has + past participlesubject + V(s) (simple present)be + V-ingso + adjective/adverb + that + clauseIf + present perfect, will + base verbwill have been + V-ingNot only + clause, but also + clausedespite + noun / despite + V-ing

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In Tenses

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