Dialogue
Être sur le point de or en train de? About to versus already doing
Practise about to and in the middle of in a departure dialogue. Compare sur le point de, en train de and aller, with past-time examples.
- B1
- 10 lines
- Practice mode
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In short
Être sur le point de + infinitive means “to be about to”: je suis sur le point de partir. Être en train de + infinitive means an action is underway: je suis en train de préparer mon sac. Conjugate être; keep the action verb in the infinitive.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
Maya is packing while Hugo waits. Practise Maya’s lines: the English cue stays visible when you hide her French. Her action moves from preparation to departure during the exchange.
- Hugo
Tu es prête ? On part dans cinq minutes.
English
Are you ready? We’re leaving in five minutes.
- Maya
Je suis en train de préparer mon sac.
Say that you are packing your bag right now.
English
I’m packing my bag.
- Hugo
Tu cherches encore tes clés ?
English
Are you still looking for your keys?
- Maya
Non, je les ai. Je suis sur le point de fermer mon sac.
You have your keys. Say you are about to close your bag.
English
No, I have them. I’m about to close my bag.
- Hugo
Attends ! Tu as pris ton billet ?
English
Wait! Have you taken your ticket?
- Maya
Oui, je suis en train de le vérifier.
Say yes, and that you are checking it now.
English
Yes, I’m checking it.
- Hugo
Et ta veste ?
English
And your jacket?
- Maya
Elle est là. Je suis sur le point de la mettre.
It is here. Say you are about to put it on.
English
It’s here. I’m about to put it on.
- Hugo
D’accord. Je t’attends devant la porte.
English
All right. I’ll wait for you by the door.
- Maya
Voilà, je suis prête. On peut partir.
Say you are ready and you can both leave.
English
There, I’m ready. We can leave.
What Maya is getting ready
Find:
| Pattern | Example | Viewpoint |
|---|---|---|
| aller + infinitif | Je vais partir demain. | A plan for tomorrow |
| être sur le point de | Je suis sur le point de partir. | Departure is imminent |
| être en train de | Je suis en train de préparer mon sac. | Packing is underway |
How do you use être sur le point de in the past?
J’étais sur le point de sortir quand Hugo a appelé. Je suis restée pour lui répondre.
I was about to go out when Hugo called. I stayed to answer him.
The second sentence tells us the departure was delayed. The first only brings us to the moment just before it.
Before a vowel, de becomes d’: sur le point d’ouvrir, en train d’écrire. Put object pronouns with the infinitive: sur le point de lui répondre. In a negative, je ne suis pas sur le point de partir says departure is not imminent; je ne partirai jamais says something much stronger.