Meaning of be to | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Used to express an official plan, arrangement, or scheduled event.
2. Used in the past tense to indicate that something was supposed to happen or was destined to happen.
3. Used after if to introduce a condition that must be met in order for something to happen or succeed.
4. Used to give commands, instructions, or to state rules. In negative form, it expresses prohibition.
5. Used to ask or state what someone should do.
6. Used to ask how something is possible or achievable
7. Used after if or in inversion to describe hypothetical or imagined scenarios.

Equivalents

Examples

“The CEO is to announce⟳ the new company strategy tomorrow.”

“Strange things were to happen⟳ all over the country.”

“If we are to make⟳ it, we'd better get⟳ a taxi.”

“You are to hand in your essay by Friday.”

“What is he to do in such a difficult situation?”

“How am I to reach⟳ the top shelf without a ladder?”

“If you were to find⟳ a wallet on the street, would you take⟳ it?”

CEFR level