• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Articles & lessons
    • Grammar & vocabulary lessons
    • IELTS preparation
    • British culture
    • All articles and lessons
  • About
  • Contact
Crown Academy of English

English lessons and resources




You are here: Home / English lessons / Meaning of “be about to do something”

Meaning of “be about to do something”

1st February 2019 by Andrew

Form:
be about + infinitive

The infinitive = “to” + the base form of a verb.

Meaning:
To describe something that we expect to happen very soon.
It refers to the immediate future.

Examples:


yellow bus

The bus is about to leave.
(The bus is going to leave very soon.)

Manager: The meeting is about to start. Where is everyone?

sales report
by panuruangjan | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Jane: Could you help me with the sales report?
Sarah: I’m about to leave. Can we do this tomorrow?

woman wearing headset
by imagerymajestic | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Customer: What is the price of the laser printer?
Supplier: I am about to send you an email with all of our prices.

be just about

Form:
be just about + infinitive

Meaning:
The word “just” emphasises that the future action is very very soon. Probably in the next few seconds.

Example:

man yawning
by sakhorn38 | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Jane: Let’s watch this TV show.
Mark: No sorry, I’m just about to go to bed.

past form of “be” + “about”

Form:
past form of be + about + infinitive

Meaning:
Something that was going to happen but did not happen.

Examples:

friends having a drink
Clare: I was about to eat when you invited me for a drink.

Jane: Hi Sarah!
Sarah: Hi Jane! I was just about to call you.

More English lessons

Adjectives ending in ING and ED
IELTS online course with writing corrections and speaking practice
Reflexive pronouns and intensive pronouns
Private online English lessons and speaking practice
Conditionals in English
English lessons on our Youtube channel

English lesson on YouTube

Filed Under: English lessons

More lessons

Girl wearing headphones

Difference between hear and listen

"hear" and "listen" are both verbs related to sounds. The meaning of both words is therefore related but different. It is important not to confuse the … [Read More...] about Difference between hear and listen

Modal verb COULD – Form, use and meaning

"could" is a modal verb. Pronunciation: /kʊd/ In this lesson, you will learn the form of could. You will also learn the many different uses and … [Read More...] about Modal verb COULD – Form, use and meaning

red fiat

When to use commas in English

A comma is an element of punctuation. It is symbol that we write within a sentence. We write a comma on the base line of the text. A comma … [Read More...] about When to use commas in English

London

Present perfect verb tense in English

In this lesson about the present perfect, you will learn the following: Form affirmative subject + verb have (in the present simple form) + … [Read More...] about Present perfect verb tense in English

coffee

The verb PREFER in English

This English lesson has 2 versions: 1) Video version 2) Text version. (below video) We use the verb PREFER to say that we like something more … [Read More...] about The verb PREFER in English

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary Coultas Gomez says

    1st February 2019 at 10:46 pm

    Hello Mr. Andrew.

    I’m really exacted to have found you in You Tube. I’m a woman 66 years old, so I think never is late to learn a new language. I have been watching some of your English classes. These are very clear and interesting.

    Thank you so much for your help to many people around the world

  2. Syllablecounter says

    6th October 2023 at 2:25 pm

    I’m about to do something!

Primary Sidebar

Lessons

native english speaker

How to understand native English speakers

girl reading

How to improve your English vocabulary

peas on spoon

“a little” and “a few ” to describe quantity

doctor

The difference between practice and practise

Girl wearing headphones

Difference between hear and listen

handbag

compliment or complement





Footer

Follow us on social media

Crown Academy of English on YouTube Crown Academy of English on Twitter

Privacy policy

Privacy policy

Recent

  • 8 ways to say that something is FREE in English
  • English idioms and expressions related to CRIME
  • How to use either and neither – English lesson
  • Learn English vocabulary – Vegetables
  • English Idioms related to speed

Search