Will be doing, be about to, be due to

What's in the lesson

1. 1Warm-up
2. 2Reading: tomorrow's planReading comprehension
3. 3What does it mean?Grammar exercise
4. 4Which meaning?Grammar exercise
5. 5The future continuous, be about to, be due toGrammar rule
6. 6Choose the right formGrammar exercise
7. 7The big dayGrammar exercise
8. 8Build the sentencesGrammar exercise
9. 9Say it naturallySpeaking practice
10. 10Your week aheadSpeaking practice
11. 11About youGrammar exercise
12. 12Wrap-up

Homework

1. 1Homework: a busy FridayGrammar exercise
2. 2Homework: which is right?Grammar exercise
3. 3Homework: plan a day tripDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

1. Who in your family is always early, and who is always late?
2. What is the next big event on your calendar?
3. Have you ever missed a train, a flight or a bus? What happened?

Grammar rule

The future continuous, be about to, be due to

The future continuous: will be + -ing

Use	Example
an action in progress at a time in the future	Tomorrow afternoon, I'll be painting the kitchen.
an action in progress when something else happens (when + present simple)	When you get home, I'll still be working.
something that will happen as a normal part of events	I'll be passing the post office anyway, so I can mail it for you.
a polite question about someone's plans	Will you be staying for dinner? (Will you stay for dinner? sounds more like an invitation.)

Negative: won't be + -ing. Verbs for states (know, want, believe, own, belong) don't usually take -ing: I'll know tomorrow. After when, before, after, until and as soon as, use the present simple: when you get home.

be about to and be due to

Form	Meaning	Example
be about to + verb	very soon, in the next few moments (no exact time)	Quick, the bus is about to leave!
was / were about to + verb	it was going to happen very soon (often it didn't)	I was about to text you when you called.
be due to + verb	planned or expected at a particular time	The new subway line is due to open next year.
be due (+ a time)	expected, or must be paid or handed in, at that time	The baby is due in March. The rent is due on the first.

Don't mix up be due to + verb (scheduled) and due to + noun (because of): The game was canceled due to the rain. And don't use an exact time with be about to: not The train is about to leave at six.