Be about to, be due to, be on the verge of
The film is about to start, the train is due to leave at six, prices are set to rise: the near future.
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Besides will, going to and the present tenses, English has fixed phrases with be for the future. Some say that something will happen very soon (be about to, be on the point of, be on the verge of). Others say that it is arranged or expected (be due to, be set to). They all change be for the tense: is about to, was about to.
Phrase | What follows | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
be about to | base form | very soon | The film is about to start. |
be on the point of | -ing | very soon, often a decision | I was on the point of leaving. |
be on the verge of | -ing or noun | close to a big change | She was on the verge of tears. |
be due to | base form | arranged for a time | The train is due to leave at six. |
be due | time phrase | expected | The rent is due on Friday. |
be set to | base form | expected (news) | Prices are set to rise again. |
Be about to: very soon
Be about to + base form means that something will happen in the next moments. In the past, was about to often means that it was interrupted or didn't happen.
- Hurry up! The film is about to start.
- I'm about to go into a meeting. Can I call you back?
- I was about to call you when your message arrived.
- Incorrect: The train is about to leave in ten minutes.
- Correct: The train is about to leave. / The train leaves in ten minutes.About to already means "now, very soon", so it doesn't usually take a time phrase.
In informal English, not about to means "not willing to": I've worked too hard on this. I'm not about to give up now.
Be on the point of: just before
Be on the point of + -ing means the same as be about to, and is often used for a decision or an action someone was ready to take.
- She was on the point of resigning when they offered her a promotion.
- We were on the point of giving up when we finally found the house.
- Incorrect: I was on the point to leave.
- Correct: I was on the point of leaving.Of, like other prepositions, takes -ing.
Be on the verge of, be on the brink of
On the verge of + noun or -ing means very close to an important change or event. On the brink of is similar, but usually for something serious or dangerous.
- She was on the verge of tears when the results came in.
- Scientists believe they are on the verge of a major breakthrough.
- The company is on the brink of collapse.
- The two countries were on the brink of war.
Be due to and be due: arranged times
Be due to + base form says that something is arranged or expected at a time, like a timetable. Be due + a time phrase is used in the same way, especially for payments, babies and arrivals.
- The plane is due to land at 6.40.
- The report is due to be published next week.
- The rent is due on the first of the month.
- Their first baby is due in March.
- Incorrect: The meeting is due to Monday.
- Correct: The meeting is due to take place on Monday. / The meeting is on Monday.Due to + noun means "because of". For a time, use due to + verb, or due + a time phrase: due on Monday, due at six, due in March.
Be set to: news and predictions
Be set to + base form says that something is expected to happen, often soon. It is typical of news reports.
- Petrol prices are set to rise again next month.
- The film is set to break box-office records.
- The new law is set to come into force in January.
In the past
All these phrases can go into the past for a future seen from the past. With was due to, the plan often did not happen.
- The ferry was due to leave at noon, but it was cancelled because of the storm.
- He was about to say something, but then he stopped.
- The talks were on the verge of collapse when a deal was finally reached.