Sponsored
Krishna Nath
Bengaluru, 45 Mins AgoHow To Use The Phrase BE ABOUT TO (do something) In English Speaking & Writing?
Be About To (do something) vs Be Not About To (do something)
Do you know how to use the phrase 'Be about to do something' or
'Be not about to do something' in English writing and
speaking?
Now let's know how to use this fantastic phrase in Advanced English writing
and speaking.
BE ABOUT TO (DO SOMETHING)
[SUB + BE VERB (AM, IS, ARE, etc.) + ABOUT TO + VERB (v1) + OBJ]
The phrase 'Be about to (do something)' means 'To be close to doing
something or To be going to happen or do something very soon or Intend to do
something, or be close to doing something, very soon.
If you are 'about to do something', you are going to do it very
soon. If something is 'about to happen', it will happen very soon.
[To be ready to do something or to be going to do something in the next
moment.]
Example Sentences
1) The movie is about to begin. Hurry up, John. We're already
late.
2) John is about to start his new company. And I'm about to join
his company as an MD.
3) We are about to borrow some money from the bank to start our
new business.
4) I was just about to put the roast in the oven when the doorbell
rang - that's why dinner still needs to be prepared.
BE NOT ABOUT TO (DO SOMETHING)
[SUB + BE VERB (AM, IS, ARE, etc.) + NOT + ABOUT TO + VERB (v1) + OBJ]
On the other hand, the phrase
'Be not about to (do something)' means 'To not be willing to do
something or To not intend to do something'
If you are 'not about to do something', you are not going to do it
or are unwilling to do it. [You are determined not to do it right
now.]
Example Sentences
1) Jane has never done any cooking and she is not about to start
now. [Jane has never done any cooking and she is not willing to start
now.]
2) We're not about to leave the place. [We are determined not to
leave the place right now.]
3) John is not about to join this company because he has got a
prestigious job offer from another reputed company in the USA. [John is
not willing to join this company because he has got a prestigious job
offer from another reputed company in the USA..]
Now Let's Have A Look At The Sentences Below
1) The old man is about to die. [The old man will die very soon.]
2) Tom is about to buy a new brand mobile phone. [Tom will buy a new
brand mobile phone very soon.]
3) John is about to marry Jane. [John will marry Jane very soon.]
4) We're about to leave the place. [We will leave the place very
soon.]
5) What are you about to do? [What will you do very soon? or What are you
going to do very soon?]
6) Our soldiers are not about to leave the battleground. [Our soldiers are
not willing to leave or are determined not to leave the battleground.]
7) I'm not about to find a new job. Instead, I prefer to start my own
business. [I'm not willing to find a new job. Instead, I prefer to start my
own business.]
8) John is not about to stop learning English. [John is not willing to or
is determined not to stop learning English.]
9) I'm about to go to work. | I think he's about to leave.
10) The film was about to start. | I was about to leave when Mark arrived.
11) She looked as if she was about to cry. | I am about to have my dinner.
12) I was just about to ask you the same thing. | The ceremony is about to begin.
13) We arrived just as the ceremony was about to begin. He said that something was about to happen.
Liked By K. Nath and 2 others
View All 120 Comments
Krishna Nath
Bengaluru, 45 Mins AgoLiked By K. Nath and 2 others
View All 120 Comments
Requests
Rahul Goldsmith
8 Mutual Friends
Soumitra Debnath
8 Mutual Friends
Madhab Pramanik
8 Mutual Friends