| Element | USE: 'BE ABOUT TO' |
|---|---|
| SuperCat | FUTURE |
| SubCat | future in the past |
| Lexical Range | N/A |
| Level | B2 |
| Cando | Can use the simple past form of 'be' + 'about to' (often with 'just') to talk about the immediate future from a point in the past. |
| Corrected Learner Example | Two days before, I told him that our father was about to buy a brand new car. (France; B2 VANTAGE; 2000; French; Pass) When I was about to answer the question, I realised that it was not as easy as I had thought. (Sweden; B2 VANTAGE; 1993; Swedish; Pass) Dear Helen, Believe it or not, I was just about to write you a letter when I received yours. (Chile; B2 VANTAGE; 2005; Spanish - Latin American; Pass) Just as we were about to climb through the broken window, a policeman arrived on the scene. (Greece; B2 VANTAGE; 1993; Greek; Pass) |
| Uncorrected Learner Example | |
| Comments | N/A |
