about to
I was about to leave when the phone rang.
I was on the point of leaving when the phone rang.
on the verge of doing something imminently
She was about to start her presentation when the lights went out.
She was just starting her presentation when the lights went out.
We were about to eat dinner when the guests arrived.
We were ready to eat dinner when the guests arrived.
Used to indicate an action that is imminent or just about to happen. Often followed by a verb in the infinitive form.
Collocations
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Imminence Indicator
Use 'about to' to show that an action is imminent. It often creates suspense or urgency in storytelling.
Gold Rule
Verb Form
Always followed by the infinitive form of a verb (to + base verb).
Tense Consistency
Used with past, present, or future tenses to indicate imminence in that time frame.
Word Origin
The phrase 'about to' originates from Middle English 'aboute' (near) combined with the infinitive marker 'to'. The sense of imminence developed from the idea of being close to an action.
Usage Notes
Common in both spoken and written English. Often used in narratives to create a sense of immediacy. Not typically used in formal legal or technical writing.