Content tagged with "modals"

Displaying 1-10 of 42 result(s)

BE ABOUT + TO-infinitive

Be about + to-infinitive refers to arranged actions that happen in the immediate future. It is often used with just:

Hurry up! The ceremony is about to begin!
"Do you have a minute?" "I'm sorry, I'm just about to leave."

BE BOUND + TO-infinitive

Be bound + to-infinitive is used to refer to future events which are certain or very likely to happen:

Kevin is stuck in a traffic jam, so he is bound to be late.

BE DUE + TO-infinitive

Be due + to-infinitive is used to refer to fixed events happening at or within a specific time:

The film is due to start at 8 pm.
Half of our employees are due to retire in five years.
Negotiations were due to take place later that week.

BE GOING TO for intentions

Be going to is used to express future intentions that, at the moment of speaking, have already been decided:

We are going to redecorate the living room next week.
Are you going to propose to her?
Do you think Sam's going to apply for the job?

BE GOING TO for predictions

Be going to is used to predict future events that are very near (and can be seen) or seem sure to happen. Such predictions are based on present evidence:

I'm going to faint.
Look at the clouds; it's going to rain.
My sister is going to have a baby.

BE LIKELY + TO-infinitive / IT IS LIKELY + THAT-clause

Be likely + to-infinitive and it is likely + that-clause are used for future events which are probably going to happen:

Smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer compared to non-smokers.
It is likely that he will win the race.

BE ON THE EDGE / POINT / VERGE OF (doing) something

The expressions be on the edge / point / verge of (doing) something refer to actions that happen in the near future and have a meaning similar to be about to:

She is on the point of bursting into tears.
Researchers are on the verge of a breakthrough.

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