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Perífrasis: estar a punto de (to be about to) Posted by on Nov 3, 2011 in Spanish Vocabulary

¡Hola! ¿Cómo están todos?

Today let’s take a look at the perífrasis (verb expression) estar a punto de + infinitive. It’s used when we’re about to do something or something is going to happen very soon. For example, let’s suppose you’ve been waiting for the bus for over an hour and it still hasn’t come. You might say:

Llevo una hora esperando, ¡no puedo más! Estoy a punto de estallar.
I’ve been waiting for an hour, I can’t take it anymore! I’m about to explode.

The form estar a punto de + infinitive can be used with all verb tenses, except the imperative.

Let’s see some more examples:

Perdóname, pero no tengo tiempo para hablar contigo: estoy a punto de salir.
Excuse me, but I don’t have time to talk with you: I’m about to leave.

Estamos a punto de salir y suena el teléfono, ¡qué pesadez!
We’re about to leave and the phone rings, what a drag!

Ya he hecho casi todo el trabajo: estoy a punto de terminar.
I’ve done almost all of the work: I’m about to finish.

¿No te importa llamarme más tarde? Estoy a punto de ir a comer.
Would you mind calling me later? I’m about to go to eat.

Le voy a dar mi nueva dirección: estoy a punto de cambiar de departamento.
I’m going to give you my new address: I’m about to move into a new apartment.

Date prisa, el avión está a punto de despegar.
Hurry up, the plane is about to take off.

Este niño está a punto de echarse a andar.
This baby is about to start walking.

Estaba a punto de dormirme y me acordé de que el despertador no funcionaba.
I was about to fall asleep and I remembered that the alarm clock was not working.

Estaba a punto de entrar en la ducha y llamaron a la puerta.
I was about to go into the shower when someone knocked on the door.

Estaba a punto de firmar un cheque y me di cuenta de que no tenía dinero en la cuenta.
I was about to write a check and I realized I had no money in my account.

Por hoy es todo. Nos vemos prontito.

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About the Author: Adir

English / Spanish teacher and translator for over 20 years. I have been blogging since 2007 and I am also a professional singer in my spare time.