Be About To and Be Due To

B2 · Upper IntermediateFuture Forms

Be about to and be due to both talk about the near future, but they answer two different questions: 'is it imminent?' and 'is it scheduled?'

What you'll learn

  • Be about to + base verb: an action on the very point of happening
  • Be due to + base verb: an action expected according to a schedule or plan
  • Be about to focuses on imminence; be due to focuses on a timetable
  • Both are followed by the base form of the verb

Be about to: right on the edge of happening

Be about to describes something that will happen in the next few seconds or minutes — you can almost feel it starting.

"The movie is about to start."
"She was just about to leave when the phone rang."

Be due to: scheduled or expected

Be due to describes something expected to happen according to a timetable, schedule, or plan — a train, a flight, a delivery, an announcement.

"The plane is due to land at 3pm."
"The results are due to be announced next week."

Imminent vs. scheduled

The key difference is timing and source: be about to means 'any second now,' based on what you can see happening; be due to means 'according to the schedule,' which could be minutes, hours, or weeks away.

"We're about to eat — can you call back later? (right now)"
"The train isn't due to arrive until 9. (later, by schedule)"

Negatives and questions

Both phrases negate with a form of be + not, and form questions by inverting be with the subject.

"Is the meeting about to start?"
"Is the store about to close?"

Real English

"He's about to sign the contract."
"The flight is due to depart at noon."
"The show is about to begin."
"The train isn't due to arrive until 9."

Watch out

✗The movie is about starting.
✓The movie is about to start.

Use be about to + base verb, not be about + -ing.

✗The plane is due land at 3pm.
✓The plane is due to land at 3pm.

Don't drop to — be due to always includes to before the base verb.

✗We're due to eat — can you call back later?
✓We're about to eat — can you call back later?

For something happening in the next few seconds, use be about to, not be due to.

Real life — Waiting at the airport

"Is our flight on time?"

"Yes, it's due to depart at noon — right on schedule."

"Great, should we head to the gate?"

"Yes, boarding is about to start any minute."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — an action about to happen right now.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — a scheduled arrival.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct negative

Choose the correct negative.

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct question

Choose the correct question.

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct answer

Which phrase describes an event on a schedule or timetable?

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence for a scheduled announcement next week.

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence for something happening in the next few seconds.

Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence

Complete: 'The concert ___ (be/about) to begin — take your seats.'

Exercise 10 · Complete the sentence

Complete: 'The train ___ (be/due) to depart at 10:45.'

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

about to leave
due to leave
about to start
due to start
about to arrive
due to arrive

0 / 6 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct sentence.

You learned

  • Be about to + base verb describes something on the point of happening.
  • Be due to + base verb describes something expected according to a schedule.
  • Be about to is about imminence; be due to is about a timetable.
  • Both are followed directly by the base form of the verb.

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