即刻的未來

型態

當我們談的是「即刻的未來」時,可以用一種句型,其包含三個要素:
依照主詞做現在式的詞形變化 + about + 主要動詞的不定詞

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主詞 + to be + about(或 just about) + 不定詞
I am about to be sick
They are about to arrive.
It is just about to explode.
即刻的未來,以 to leave 為例
肯定句 否定句 疑問句 否定疑問句
I am about to leave. I am not about to leave. Am I about to leave? Am I not about to leave?
You are about to leave. You are not about to leave. Are you about to leave? Aren't you about to leave?
He is about to leave. He is not about to leave. Is he about to leave? Isn't he about to leave?
We are about to leave. We aren't about to leave. Are we about to leave? Aren't we about to leave?
They are about to leave. They aren't about to leave. Are they about to leave? Aren't they about to leave?

作用

此句型用來論及講話時片刻之後的事,強調某件事很快就會發生。

舉例
  • She is about to cry.
  • You are about to see something very unusual.
  • I am about to go to a meeting.
  • We are just about to go inside.
  • Sally is just about to jump off that diving board.

若談論的是過去即將發生、但被打斷的事,也可以將此句型的現在式 Be 動詞改為過去簡單式的 Be 動詞。這樣的句型通常後面會接一個以「when」引導的子句。

舉例
  • She was about to leave when Jim arrived.
  • When it started to rain, I was about to go out for a walk.
  • I was just about to call her when she walked in.
  • The car was just about to flip over when he regained control.
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