Would you explain about the various meaning of structure "be to come back"

Question

* He is to come back home.I read it have several meaning. I can't understand why.What deos it mean? Please write down all meaning at reply.

Philip · Accepted Answer

It's a shortened version of he is due to come back home / he is supposed to come back home / he is going to come back home. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but then I don't have the context.

Ljswave · Answer

Hello, Philip.
Thank you for your clear answer. I got it.
one more question
As your explaination, "be to Verb" means "be due to or be supposed to, is going to" ,
plusing, I read a book on usage of "be to Verb".That book says they mean a little bit different as in the contexts, right?
example as...What about your thinking?
----------------------------------------------------------
1. We are to meet at 9 tonight.
--> We are supposed to meet at 9 tonight.

2. We are to observe the rules. = We are going to observe the rules.
---> someone says it means We should(=must) observe the rules, right?

3. Nobody was to be seen in the Seoul station.
---> Nobody was possible to be seen in the Seoul station

4. The day came, the day which was to decide the fate of the Empire.
---> The day came, the day which was fateful to decide the fate of the Empire.
5. If you are to succeed, you must work hard.
---> If you are intent to succeed , you must work hard.

Philip · Answer

Your explanations are good. #4 sounds a bit awkward with fateful; I think I'd use determined.

Would you explain about the various meaning of structure "be to come back"

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