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    I Am About To

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    Eunike Ade Rolike
    The document discusses the use of the phrase "I am about to" to talk about plans or actions that will happen very soon in the near future. It provides examples of how to use "I am about to" with different verbs to talk about plans or ask others about their plans. It also discusses how to report imperatives or commands using "tell/ask somebody to do something" rather than reporting them as statements.

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    I Am About To

    Uploaded by

    Eunike Ade Rolike
    8 views3 pages
    The document discusses the use of the phrase "I am about to" to talk about plans or actions that will happen very soon in the near future. It provides examples of how to use "I am about to" with different verbs to talk about plans or ask others about their plans. It also discusses how to report imperatives or commands using "tell/ask somebody to do something" rather than reporting them as statements.

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    I am about to

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    The document discusses the use of the phrase "I am about to" to talk about plans or actions that will happen very soon in the near future. It provides examples of how to use "I am about to" with different verbs to talk about plans or ask others about their plans. It also discusses how to report imperatives or commands using "tell/ask somebody to do something" rather than reporting them as statements.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    8 views3 pages

    I Am About To

    Uploaded by

    Eunike Ade Rolike
    The document discusses the use of the phrase "I am about to" to talk about plans or actions that will happen very soon in the near future. It provides examples of how to use "I am about to" with different verbs to talk about plans or ask others about their plans. It also discusses how to report imperatives or commands using "tell/ask somebody to do something" rather than reporting them as statements.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    I am about to…

    This sentence pattern is used to tell what we will do or what will happen in the near future.
    We do not use this to talk about tomorrow, next week, or next year. This is used to talk about
    the very near future.

    Subject + be verb + about + infinitive…

     I am about to go to lunch. Do you want to come?


     She is about to go home.
     He is about to start his speech.
     The movie is about to start. Please be quiet.
     The child is about to cry.
     I think it is about to rain.
     The train is about to leave, so we should hurry.
     The store is about to close.
     The game is about to be over.
     It is about to rain.
     I think it is about to snow.
     It looks like they are about to fight.
     It seems like the people at that table are about to leave.

    We can ask about other people’s plans or actions in the near future by using this question
    pattern.

    Be verb + subject + about + infinitive…?

     Are you about to leave?


     Is the movie about to start?
     Are they about to begin?
     Is Mark about to give his presentation?
     Is she about to faint?

    We can also use question words.

    Question Word + be verb + subject + about + infinitive…?

     What are you about to do?


     Why are you about to leave?
     What is he about to do?
     Where are you about to go?
    Bonus Tips and Points

    1. We often use “about to get + adjective” to show how something will change in the near
    future. And we can use it with passive verbs.

    Subject + be verb + about to get…

     The movie is about to get interesting.


     She is about to get angry.
     The pizza is about to get cold.
     She is about to get scolded.
     We are about to get paid.

    We can use the same sentence pattern with a noun to show what a person will receive in the
    near future.

    Subject + be verb + about to get…

     The boy is about to get a shot from the doctor.


     The students are about to get their scores.
     I am about to get some money.

    Real-World English Conversations

    A) Let’s go for a walk. I want to get some fresh air.


    B) I think it is about to rain, so maybe we should stay inside.

    A) What are you doing?


    B) I am about to go to lunch. Do you want to join me?
    A) Sure.

    A) Where are you getting ready to go?


    B) I’m about to go to the store. Do you need anything?
    A) Can you get me some orange juice?
    B) No problem.

    A) I think those people are about to leave.


    B) Okay. Let’s get that table when they leave.
    A) I will get it as soon as they get up.

    A) I am about to watch a movie.


    B) Nice. Can I watch with you?
    A) Of course.
    Reported Speech: Imperatives

    written by admin April 20, 2020

    Imperatives in reported speech are a little different than sentences. Imperatives can be used
    when we give orders and we can also use them to make requests.

    For imperatives, we use “ask/tell somebody to do something”.

    Compare these two sentences and how they are used in reported speech.

    Statement: “It is good.”

    Reported Speech: He said that it is good.

    Imperative: “Come here.”

    Reported Speech: She told me to come here.

    So, we use “ask/tell + to + verb” to report a command or imperative.

     “Be quiet.”
    The teacher told the students to be quiet.
     “Sit down.”
    My boss told me to sit down.
     “Wake up early.”
    She told me to wake up early.
     “Please stop it.”
    He asked her to please stop it.
     “Bring it, please.”
    He asked her to bring it, please.

    Note: Use “tell” for orders and use “ask” for polite requests.

    For negative imperatives, we use “not to + verb”. However, you will often hear native
    speakers say “to + not + verb”.

     “Don’t do that.”
    She told me not to do that.
     “Do not talk.”
    She told us not to talk.
     “Please do not be late.”
    She asked me not to be late.
     “Don’t be noisy.”
    I told her not to be noisy.

    Note: Did you see the difference with negative imperatives with adjectives? Look at the last
    two examples. We leave out the verb “do”.

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