กำลังจะ

Explanation

กำลังจะ is placed before a verb in the pattern กำลังจะ + verb. It shows that the action or change has not begun but is expected to begin very soon. กำลัง by itself commonly marks an action in progress, while จะ can mark the future, plans, or intentions. As a combination, however, กำลังจะ is best learned as a single pattern meaning “be about to.” For example, ฉันกำลังกิน means “I am eating,” whereas ฉันกำลังจะกิน means “I am about to eat.” The reference point does not have to be the present. In a past context, it can describe what someone was about to do at that time. It is used both for intentional actions and for events or changes such as approaching rain.

Usage

Commonly used when saying that you are just about to leave, eat, sleep, call someone, or begin another action. It is also natural for imminent events inferred from a schedule or the situation, such as rain starting, a store closing, or a train arriving. It is widely used in both conversation and writing.

Caution

กำลัง + verb means that the action is already in progress, while กำลังจะ + verb means that it has not started yet. For distant or general future plans, จะ is normally more appropriate because กำลังจะ implies immediacy. The expression describes what was imminent; it does not guarantee that the event eventually occurred.

1 be about to do synonyms

• จะ

  cà will

  จะ is a general marker of future events, plans, or intentions. กำลังจะ is more immediate and emphasizes that something is on the verge of happening.

• ใกล้จะ

  ใกล้จะ means that something is getting close to a particular time or state and can allow a broader sense of nearness. กำลังจะ more strongly suggests that it is just about to begin.