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This sentence pattern is used to tell what we will do or what will happen in the near future.
We do not use this to talk about tomorrow, next week, or next year. This is used to talk about the very near future.
Subject + be verb + about + infinitive…
- I am about to go to lunch. Do you want to come?
- She is about to go home.
- He is about to start his speech.
- The movie is about to start. Please be quiet.
- The child is about to cry.
- I think it is about to rain.
- The train is about to leave, so we should hurry.
- The store is about to close.
- The game is about to be over.
- It is about to rain.
- I think it is about to snow.
- It looks like they are about to fight.
- It seems like the people at that table are about to leave.
We can ask about other people’s plans or actions in the near future by using this question pattern.
Be verb + subject + about + infinitive…?
- Are you about to leave?
- Is the movie about to start?
- Are they about to begin?
- Is Mark about to give his presentation?
- Is she about to faint?
We can also use question words.
Question Word + be verb + subject + about + infinitive…?
- What are you about to do?
- Why are you about to leave?
- What is he about to do?
- Where are you about to go?
Bonus Tips and Points
1. We often use “about to get + adjective” to show how something will change in the near future. And we can use it with passive verbs.
Subject + be verb + about to get…
- The movie is about to get interesting.
- She is about to get angry.
- The pizza is about to get cold.
- She is about to get scolded.
- We are about to get paid.
We can use the same sentence pattern with a noun to show what a person will receive in the near future.
Subject + be verb + about to get…
- The boy is about to get a shot from the doctor.
- The students are about to get their scores.
- I am about to get some money.
Real-World English Conversations
A) Let’s go for a walk. I want to get some fresh air.
B) I think it is about to rain, so maybe we should stay inside.
A) What are you doing?
B) I am about to go to lunch. Do you want to join me?
A) Sure.
A) Where are you getting ready to go?
B) I’m about to go to the store. Do you need anything?
A) Can you get me some orange juice?
B) No problem.
A) I think those people are about to leave.
B) Okay. Let’s get that table when they leave.
A) I will get it as soon as they get up.
A) I am about to watch a movie.
B) Nice. Can I watch with you?
A) Of course.
Use these free English lessons to learn the most common sentence patterns in the English language. If you learn these sentences and questions, it will help you speak English well. Study the lessons thoroughly, practice making your own sentences, and come back to review often. If you do these three steps, your English speaking will improve quickly and you will be able to have natural English conversations.
English Sentence Patterns for Speaking Index
