In English, the word ‘about’ usually means ‘approximately’ or ‘roughly’, but when used in the phrase ‘be about to do’, it takes on a completely different meaning. This article explores why ‘about’ has this specific meaning in ‘be about to do’.
Understanding the Usual Meaning of ‘About’
In most contexts, ‘about’ means something like ‘around’, ‘approximately’, or ‘roughly’. For example, ‘I have about 10 minutes left’ implies an approximation of time. However, the phrase ‘be about to do’ has a more specific connotation.
The Meaning of ‘Be About to Do’
‘Be about to do’ means that an action is very close to happening, often implying that it is happening almost immediately or in the very near future. For instance, ‘I am about to leave’ means ‘I am just about to leave’, indicating that the departure is imminent.
Why Does ‘About’ Change Meaning in ‘Be About to Do’?
The phrase ‘be about to do’ uses ‘about’ in a way that emphasizes the immediacy of the action. While ‘about’ typically refers to an approximation, in this case, it emphasizes the idea of something happening right before or in a very short time frame. This shift in meaning helps convey the urgency or the near certainty of the action taking place.
Other Examples of ‘Be About to Do’
Other examples of the phrase include ‘She is about to speak’, meaning she is just about to start speaking. Similarly, ‘He is about to arrive’ means that his arrival is imminent. These examples show how ‘about’ in ‘be about to do’ indicates something on the verge of happening.
Conclusion
In summary, the phrase ‘be about to do’ uses ‘about’ in a way that signifies something is about to happen in the very near future, rather than an approximation. This usage is a specific idiomatic construction in English that conveys urgency or immediacy.
コメント