Complete Guide to “Be About To” with Examples in English and Hindi

Introduction to “Be About To”

The semi-modal expression “be about to” is used to describe imminent actions or events that will happen in the very near future. This comprehensive guide explores its meaning, grammatical structure, usage nuances, and provides practical examples with Hindi translations.

Meaning and Usage (अर्थ और प्रयोग)

“Be about to” expresses:

• Immediate Future (निकट भविष्य) – Actions happening momentarily
• On the Verge (कगार पर) – Being at the point of doing something
• Imminent Events (आसन्न घटनाएँ) – Things ready to occur
• Last-Minute Actions (अंतिम समय की क्रियाएँ) – Just before something happens

Grammatical Structure (व्याकरणिक संरचना)

Basic Form: Subject + am/is/are + about to + base verb
Negative Form: Subject + am/is/are + not + about to + base verb
Question Form: Am/Is/Are + subject + about to + base verb?

Examples:

• The show is about to start. (शो शुरू होने वाला है।)
• I’m not about to give up. (मैं हार मानने वाला नहीं हूँ।)
• Are you about to leave? (क्या तुम जाने वाले हो?)

Key Usage Rules (मुख्य प्रयोग नियम)

1. Immediate Timeframe: Refers to the next few moments/minutes
2. No Future Time Markers: Cannot be used with “tomorrow”, “next week” etc.
3. Informal Contraction: “I’m about to”, “He’s about to” are common
4. Strong Negation: “Not about to” shows strong refusal

When to Use “Be About To”

1. Immediate Future Actions (तत्काल भविष्य की क्रियाएँ)

Used for actions happening in the next few moments.

Example:
The train is about to depart.
(ट्रेन प्रस्थान करने वाली है।)

2. On the Point of Doing (करने की कगार पर)

Used when someone is just starting an action.

Example:
I was about to call you.
(मैं तुम्हें फोन करने ही वाला था।)

3. Imminent Events (आसन्न घटनाएँ)

Used for events ready to occur.

Example:
The storm is about to hit.
(तूफान टकराने वाला है।)

4. Strong Refusal (मजबूत इनकार)

In negative form, shows strong unwillingness.

Example:
I’m not about to apologize.
(मैं माफी माँगने वाला नहीं हूँ।)

15 Practical Examples with Hindi Translations

S.No.	English Sentence	Hindi Translation
1.	The movie is about to begin.	फिल्म शुरू होने वाली है।
2.	She is about to announce her decision.	वह अपना फैसला सुनाने वाली है।
3.	We’re about to have dinner.	हम रात का खाना खाने वाले हैं।
4.	They’re not about to surrender.	वे आत्मसमर्पण करने वाले नहीं हैं।
5.	Are you about to finish your work?	क्या तुम अपना काम खत्म करने वाले हो?
6.	He was about to fall asleep.	वह सोने ही वाला था।
7.	The baby is about to cry.	बच्चा रोने ही वाला है।
8.	I’m about to lose my patience.	मेरा धैर्य खत्म होने वाला है।
9.	The plane is about to take off.	हवाई जहाज उड़ान भरने वाला है।
10.	They’re about to make a big mistake.	वे बड़ी गलती करने वाले हैं।
11.	She’s not about to forgive him.	वह उसे माफ करने वाली नहीं है।
12.	Is the meeting about to end?	क्या मीटिंग खत्म होने वाली है?
13.	We were about to leave when you called.	जब तुमने फोन किया तब हम निकलने ही वाले थे।
14.	The sun is about to set.	सूरज अस्त होने वाला है।
15.	He’s about to break the record.	वह रिकॉर्ड तोड़ने वाला है।

Comparison with Similar Expressions

1. “Be about to” vs “Be going to”
   • “Be about to”: Immediate future (next few moments)
   • “Be going to”: Near future (next few hours/days)
2. “Be about to” vs “Will”
   • “Be about to”: Already decided, imminent
   • “Will”: Instant decision or prediction

Common Mistakes to Avoid (सामान्य गलतियाँ)

1. Using for distant future (“I’m about to visit Paris next year” → incorrect)
2. Confusing with “about” as preposition (“about the book” vs “about to read”)
3. Incorrect negative form (“about to not” → should be “not about to”)
4. Overusing in formal writing (more common in speech)

Conclusion

“Be about to” is an essential expression for describing imminent actions and immediate future events in English. Its ability to convey actions on the verge of happening makes it particularly useful in conversational English. Mastering this structure will significantly enhance your ability to express timing and urgency accurately.

“Be about to” का सही प्रयोग आपकी अंग्रेज़ी को अधिक प्रभावशाली बनाता है!
Regular practice of these examples will help you use it naturally in conversations. 

Have questions about using “be about to”? Feel free to ask in the comments!