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BE + TO-infinitive: Official Arrangements

This document summarizes different structures used with the verb "to be" to express future events or arrangements. It discusses "be + to-infinitive" for official arrangements, orders, obligations, and prohibitions. It also covers "be about to", "be bound to", "be due to", and "be likely to" followed by an infinitive or "that" clause to indicate future probability. Finally, it mentions expressions like "be on the edge/point/verge of" something to refer to imminent future actions.

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149 views4 pages

BE + TO-infinitive: Official Arrangements

This document summarizes different structures used with the verb "to be" to express future events or arrangements. It discusses "be + to-infinitive" for official arrangements, orders, obligations, and prohibitions. It also covers "be about to", "be bound to", "be due to", and "be likely to" followed by an infinitive or "that" clause to indicate future probability. Finally, it mentions expressions like "be on the edge/point/verge of" something to refer to imminent future actions.

Uploaded by

zulay
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BE + TO-infinitive

Tags:

 arrangement
 future
 modals
 obligation
 BE TO

Be + to-infinitive is used to express:

 official arrangements:

The Prime Minister is to visit India next month.

 official orders:

At the end of the course, all students are to take a written exam.

 things that should be done:

What am I to do?

 a possible aim when saying what should be done to reach it:

If you are to work here for more than three months, you must have a residence permit.

 prohibition (only in the negative):

You are not to do that again.

Be + to-infinitive can also be used in the past:

Mr Jones was to speak at the meeting. (it was arranged and he did)

But was/were + to + perfect infinitive means that the arranged event did not actually happen:

Mr Jones was to have spoken at the meeting, but he had to cancel because of his illness
Recapitulando:

El verbo "to be" conjugado en presente (am/is/are)/pasado (was/were) + un verbo en infinitivo


(es decir "to work", "to leave", "to do") se utliza para:

1) Planes futuros: He is to leave tomorrow. Él se marcha mañana.


2) Planes futuros que no se cumplen: He was to leave but he finally he didn't go. Se iba a
marchar pero finalmente no lo hizo.
3) Futuro desconocido: He didn't know he was to leave. Él no sabía que se iba a marchar.
4) Para dar órdenes: You are to leave now. Debes marcharte ahora.
5) Pre-requisitos en estructura condicional: You are to leave, if you want to get there soon.
Debes marcharte si quieres llegar allí pronto.
6) En instrucciones y advertencias: The dog is not be disturbed. El perro no debe ser
molestado. Nota: En este caso, se puede omitir am/is/are y "to be" va seguido del participio
del verbo.

BE + TO-infinitive
Tags:

 arrangement
 future
 modals
 obligation
 BE TO

Be + to-infinitive is used to express:

 official arrangements:

The Prime Minister is to visit India next month.

 official orders:

At the end of the course, all students are to take a written exam.

 things that should be done:

What am I to do?

 a possible aim when saying what should be done to reach it:

If you are to work here for more than three months, you must have a residence permit.

 prohibition (only in the negative):


You are not to do that again.

Be + to-infinitive can also be used in the past:

Mr Jones was to speak at the meeting. (it was arranged and he did)

But was/were + to + perfect infinitive means that the arranged event did not actually happen:

Mr Jones was to have spoken at the meeting, but he had to cancel because of his illness

BE ABOUT + TO-infinitive
Tags:

 future
 modals
 BE ABOUT TO
 JUST

Be about + to-infinitive refers to arranged actions that happen in the immediate future. It is
often used with just:

Hurry up! The ceremony is about to begin!


"Do you have a minute?" "I'm sorry, I'm just about to leave."

BE BOUND + TO-infinitive
Tags:

 certainty
 future
 modals
 probability
 BE BOUND TO

Be bound + to-infinitive is used to refer to future events which are certain or very likely to
happen:

Kevin is stuck in a traffic jam, so he is bound to be late.

BE DUE + TO-infinitive
Tags:
 arrangement
 future
 modals
 BE DUE TO

Be due + to-infinitive is used to refer to fixed events happening at or within a specific time:

The film is due to start at 8 pm.


Half of our employees are due to retire in five years.
Negotiations were due to take place later that week.

BE LIKELY + TO-infinitive / IT IS
LIKELY + THAT-clause
Tags:

 future
 modals
 probability
 BE LIKELY TO/THAT

Be likely + to-infinitive and it is likely + that-clause are used for future events which are
probably going to happen:

Smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer compared to non-smokers.


It is likely that he will win the race.

BE ON THE EDGE / POINT / VERGE


OF (doing) something
Tags:

 future
 modals

The expressions be on the edge / point / verge of (doing) something refer to actions that happen
in the near future and have a meaning similar to be about to:

She is on the point of bursting into tears.


Researchers are on the verge of a breakthrough.

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