I Talk Supposed Due Meant Things Happen B

Be about to is used to talk about things which are going to happen very soon:

I’m about to eat. Can I phone you back?

It is often used with just:

We’re just about to set off for a walk. Do you want to come?

When used in the past, be about to can refer to things that were going to happen but didn’t:

I was about to complain but he came over and apologised.

We don’t use be about to with time expressions:

I was about to call you.

Not: I was about to call you in ten minutes.

Be due to is used to talk about things that are expected or planned to happen at a certain time. We often use it with a time expression:

Are you due to hand in homework today?

The train is due to arrive at Glasgow Central at 12:12.

Be likely to is used to talk about how probable things are:

Are parents who have a lot of money likely to spoil their children?

It is often used to make comparisons with words like more and less:

I think men are more likely to spend a lot of money on food than women are.

A:

I liked Budapest as well.

B:

Yeah. I’m probably less likely to go back there than to Prague.

We also use it’s likely followed by that + clause:

It’s likely that sales will rise.

We form the negative of be likely to and be likely that either with not or with unlikely. Unlikely is more formal:

The company is not likely to make a profit in the second half of the year.

People are unlikely to listen to him now because they know he lied.

Be meant to is used to talk about what is desirable, expected or intended:

A:

It looks green to me.

B:

Oh, is it meant to be a different colour?

It was meant to be like a quiz and we were all in different teams and there was meant to be a fantastic prize.

Be supposed to is used to talk about obligations and arrangements:

Where were you? You were supposed to be at the party!

You’re supposed to have an hour for lunch. That’s the law.

It’s also used to talk about people’s expectations or beliefs about something:

[talking about some medicine]

A:

Take some of this.

B:

What’s it supposed to do? (What does it do to you?)

And then I’m gonna get a train over to Brussels which takes all day as well. It’s supposed to be a nice route with forests and mountains and things. (gonna represents ‘going to’, as it is pronounced in informal speaking.)