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.