Other ways to express future: Be about to, be due to, etc. — Explanation

Practice B2 future forms with exercises on 'be about to', 'be due to' and more. simple explanations and focused grammar exercises.

Other Ways to Express the Future Exercises

When learners talk about the future in English they tend to use “will” or “going to.” However, at B2 level you will want to expand your range and use more precise expressions. Structures such as “be about to,” “be due to,” “be likely to,” and others help you communicate timing, certainty, and intention more accurately.

In this guide, we explain the most common alternatives and how to use them naturally.

Be about to(Very near future)

We use be about to to talk about something that is going to happen very soon, usually within moments.

Structure:

Subject + be (am/is/are) + about to + base verb

Examples:

• The train is about to leave.
• I am about to start the meeting.
• Hurry up! The movie is about to begin.

Main idea:

The action will happen immediately or very soon.

Negative form:

• She is not about to apologize. (This can also mean refusal, depending on context.)

Be due to(Scheduled future)

We use ‘be due to’ for events that are scheduled or officially timetabled.

Structure:

Subject + be (am/is/are) + due to + base verb

Examples:

• The flight is due to arrive at 8 p.m.
• The project is due to finish next week.
• The president is due to speak later today.

Main idea:

The action is on a schedule or official plan.

Be likely to(Probability)

Use "be likely to" to say something is probably going to happen.

Structure:

Subject + be (am/is/are) + likely to + base verb

Examples:

• She is likely to win the competition.
• It is likely to rain this afternoon.
• They are likely to arrive late.

Main idea:

Indicates probability, not certainty.

Be bound to(Strong certainty)

We use "be bound to" to mean we are pretty sure something will happen.

Structure:

Subject + be (am/is/are) + bound to + base verb

Examples:

• You are bound to forget something if you rush.
• This plan is bound to succeed.
• He is bound to be tired after such a long trip.

Main idea:

Used to express strong expectation or inevitability.

Be to(Formal arrangements)

The structure be to is often found in formal language, especially in news reports or official instructions.

Structure:

Subject + be (am/is/are) + to + base verb

Examples:

• The Prime Minister is to visit France next week.
• The meeting is to take place at noon.
• You are to remain in your seats.

Main idea:

It is found in official plans, instructions or arrangements.

Be on the point of(Immediate future)

This phrase is similar to “be about to” but somewhat more formal.

Structure:

Subject + be + on the point of + -ing

Examples:

• She was on the point of leaving when you called.
• The company is on the point of launching a new product.

Main idea:

The action is about to take place.

Comparing Common Future Forms

Expression	Meaning	Example
Be about to	Immediate future	The show is about to start.
Be due to	Scheduled event	The train is due to arrive.
Be likely to	Probability	He is likely to win.
Be bound to	Strong certainty	It is bound to happen.
Be to	Formal arrangement	The event is to take place.
Be on the point of	Immediate (more formal)	She is on the point of crying.

Learning these other ways to talk about the future will make your English sound more natural, accurate and sophisticated. Instead of just saying “will,” you can show small differences in meaning (immediacy, likelihood, formal planning).

To get better, focus on:

• Practicing these structures in context.
• Comparison of Meanings
• Using them in practical situations

With practice, you will be able to confidently choose the correct future expression.