Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

OTHER MODAL EXPRESSIONS WITH BE

404

A range of expressions with be have modal meanings. These include: 

be about to

be able to

be bound to

be certain to

be due to

be likely to/that

be meant to

be obliged to

be supposed to

be sure to

670 | Modality

Cambridge Grammar of English

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She’s obviously very upset so she

’s bound to say that.

Aren’t they meant to be at the restaurant by now?

There 

was supposed to be a sale here yesterday.

The most important of these are dealt with in 404a–404h.

Be about to

404a

Be about to

refers to things which are arranged or destined to happen very soon

after the time of speaking:

[public announcement from the buffet car on a train]

We would like to advise all passengers that the third and final sitting of

breakfast 

is now about to start. Any further passengers who require breakfast,

you are advised to take your seats in the restaurant car now. 

Be about to

frequently occurs with just:

We

’re just about to go and have something to eat. Would you like to join us?

The negative of be about to may refer to things which are not destined to happen,

but it also less frequently has the meaning of ‘not prepared to/not willing to’:

Don’t worry, I

’m not about to break down into floods of tears. I’ve cried enough

for Rick. It’s time for me to get on with my life.

Mrs Green was seen to pale and it was clear that she 

was not about to open the

envelope in the presence of witnesses. 

(was not prepared/willing to open the envelope)