A. Be to for an arrangement
** We can use be + to-infinitive for an official arrangement.
- The prime minister is to visit Budapest.
- The two companies are to merge at the beginning of next year.
=== 'Be' is often left out of 'be to' in news headlines.
- Prime minister to visit Budapest.
B. Be to for an order.
** Be to can also express a rule or order by a person in authority.
- The teacher says we are to wait here
- You are not to say up late.
- No one is to leave this building.
- This trolly is not to be removed from the station.
C. Be about to and be on the point of
** We can use be about + to-infinitive for an action in the near future.
- The audiences are in their seats, and the performance is about to start.
- Hurry up. The bus is about to leave.
Note: We do not usually give a time with 'about to'
- We say 'The bus leaves in ten minutes' but not say 'The bus is about to leave in ten minutes'
** We can use 'just' with 'be about to' and 'be going to'
- The bus is just about to leave / is just going to leave.
=== This mean that the bus is leaving in the very near future.
** 'Be on the point of ' means the same as 'be about to'. It is followed by an ing-form
- The government is on the point of announcing a decision.
D. Be due to
** We can sometime use be due + to-infinitive when we are talking about a timetable.
- The meeting is due to take place on Jan 10.
- The train is due to leave in five minutes.
E. Be set to
** Be set + to-infinitive is used in newspaper reports about things that are expected to happen soon.
- The player is set to remove to an Italian club.
- The oil companies are set to raise prices once more.
F. Be bound to and be sure / certain to
** We use these forms to say that something will definitely happen in the future.
- There is bound to be trouble.
- The president is sure / certain to resign.
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