About to

Question

What does "about to" mean in this context?

About to - "to be going to happen very soon"

Is "about to" used when you think that under the current circumstances, x will happen. (or does it have to be under the current circumstances)?

Let's say two people are racing - Person A and Person B. Person B starts off strong, and is way further than Person A, then, Person B starts walking. Soon after, Person A is catching up to Person B.

Commentator: "Person A is about to catch up to Person B!" Does this mean that the commentator thinks that Person A is going to catch up to Person B very soon? Does it mean that the commentator is 100% certain that Person A is going to catch up soon? Does it mean that under the current circumstances, the Commentator thinks Person A will win?

Then, Person B starts sprinting, and Person A does not catch up to Person B. Eventually, Person B won. Does this mean that the commentator was wrong?

Let's take this example:

"He is about to die, and you are the only one that can save him."

If "about to" is used to say that he thinks that will happen very soon, then why is it that the next statment says that he is the only one that can save him?

I'm about to kick you out if you are going to continue to be disruptive. Does if the person continues to be disruptive (from the present moment on), the person will kick the person out very soon?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

"Person A is about to catch up to Person B!" Does this mean that the commentator thinks that Person A is going to catch up to Person B very soon?

Yes. You normally hear "lap" there. "Person A is about to lap Person B."

Does it mean that the commentator is 100% certain that Person A is going to catch up soon?

You could say that. Of course, person A could fall, person B could speed up, etc., and both the commentator and his audience know this.

Does it mean that under the current circumstances, the Commentator thinks Person A will win?

That depends on the length of the race. A lot can happen over 10,000 meters. The commentator would often have reason to think that, but it does not mean that. It says nothing about the outcome. That is pretty obvious to me. You seem to be applying a standard of proof and logic that is not applicable to English. Tom Stoppard wrote that English makes up in obscurity what it lacks in style, and he should know.

Then, Person B starts sprinting, and Person A does not catch up to Person B. Eventually, Person B won. Does this mean that the commentator was wrong?

Of course.

If "about to" is used to say that he thinks that will happen very soon, then why is it that the next statment says that he is the only one that can save him?

I see what you mean, and I agree in some contexts. But suppose you are talking to the governor about a convict who is to face the firing squad five minutes from now.

I'm about to kick you out if you are going to continue to be disruptive. Does if the person continues to be disruptive (from the present moment on), the person will kick the person out very soon?

This is a garbled use of the expression. I would not put it that way except in a highly vernacular way that is not important here.

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