In spanish: 'To be about to do something'
Hi, I would like to know the best way to express in spanish something that is (or was) close to being done, (and may therefore have been interrupted) - for instance, "I was just about to clean the house, when..."

I have found that two possibilities are, "Iba a" and "estar a punto de" - are these valid and do they carry the same meaning? Is there a verb that conveys this meaning also, in the way that you would use"acabar"? (except obviously 'just about to' instead to 'just finished')?

Thank you!

Question

In spanish: 'To be about to do something'
Hi, I would like to know the best way to express in spanish something that is (or was) close to being done, (and may therefore have been interrupted) - for instance, "I was just about to clean the house, when..."

I have found that two possibilities are, "Iba a" and "estar a punto de" - are these valid and do they carry the same meaning? Is there a verb that conveys this meaning also, in the way that you would use"acabar"? (except obviously 'just about to' instead to 'just finished')?

Thank you!

Answer

Yes, they do. "Iba a" and "estaba a punto de" carry the same meaning.

Iba a comer cuando me llamaron.
Estaba a punto de comer cuando me llamaron.

Iba a terminar pero no pude.
Estaba a punto de terminar pero no pude.

Maybe "estar a punto de" is more close to being done, but you can use both.

Answer

Yes, ''estas a punto de'' is rather more close to the end. 
You can also use ''disponerse a'':

Me disponía a cerrar cuando...>>Estaba a punto de empezar a cerrar.
Me dispuse a cerrar>>Empecé a cerrar, iba a cerrar.

If you want to describe something close to being finished, yes, use ''terminar'':

Terminaba de cerrar cuando...>>Estaba a punto de terminar de cerrar.

Answer

If you want to express that something is CLOSE to being done (and may have been interrupted or NOT) I think it's more accurate to express: "estar a punto de" (algo), because indicates more proximity to what will happen. Especially when you're indicating "JUST about to" and not only "about to".
You should be aware that the expression "estar a punto de" + verb, you must add (Algo = la acción) to complete the phrase. Thus:
"Estaba a punto de empezar A LIMPIAR LA CASA, cuando..."
"Estaba a punto de terminar DE COMER, cuando...".

Answer

The same happens if it is a present situation but I think then it is a slight difference between them:
"Ir a..."
Voy a ir a verte cuando termine de comer / después del almuerzo / dentro de cinco minutos.
(I'm close to go and it is needed to add "when" or after what I will do it)

"Estar a punto de..."
Estoy a punto de ir a verte.
(as you can see, using this structure you don't need to explain "when", you are close to do it and it is supposed it is not important to add some extra information. Perhaps it happens because it gives you a closer feeling than "ir a...")

Hope this helps.

Answer

"casi" es una palabra empleada también en Español para indicar que una acción estuvo a punto de ser realizada y que  faltó muy poco (un tris)  para ser un hecho.
"Casi" me gano el premio mayor de la lotería (me faltó un número).
"Casi" me caigo en la calle. (estuve a muy pocos segundos de perder el equilibrio).
"Casi" termino de leer el libro anoche. (me faltaron muy pocas páginas).

Answers · 5

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