1. Exploring Grammar in Context
Kiwan Sung
Kyung Hee University

2. Unit 5 Be + to & Other tenses for future
Part A Tenses in Context

3. BE + to V Used to express future references in forms such as: -be to V
-be due to V
-be set to V
-be expected to V
-be scheduled to V
Often communicating orders or instructions in a formal, authoritative, or factual way

4. BE + to V Often used in newspaper headline
Ex) Presidential candidates to arrive in town today
-New drugs to be banned for side effects
-Civil groups set to challenge court’s verdict on new immigration law
More formal and control behaviors (orders, instructions, commands) & used for events in near future
Ex) You are never to talk back to me!

5. BE + to V Be due to/ be about to-More in written
Ex) I am about to take off to meet my friend.
Used with conditional clause often
Ex) If you are to visit the museum, you should make a reservation before you go.
When ‘is to’ is used in the opening line of a report, the reference to the future should be ‘will’
Ex) My father is to be a new director of the audit department…He will reform the hiring practices…

6. BE + to V Past form of ‘Be to’-refer to events not happened
-I was to give you a call but forgot to do so.
Be about to~(=be on the point/verge of ~ing): action or event delayed, more informal
Ex) She was about to cry but her mom came in.
Ex) I am about to go get some drinks. Do you want any?