B2 Verb Tenses 11 min read Medium

Scheduled Future (be due to, be set to)

Use be due to or be set to for pre-arranged future events, making your schedule sound official!

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'be due to' for expected times and 'be set to' for official, fixed arrangements in formal contexts.

  • Use 'be due to' + verb for scheduled arrivals or deadlines. Example: The train is due to arrive at 6 PM.
  • Use 'be set to' + verb for official plans or imminent actions. Example: The CEO is set to resign tomorrow.
  • Always use the infinitive (to + verb) after 'due' or 'set'. Example: They are due to start soon.
Subject + [am/is/are] + due/set + to + Verb 📅

Overview

Use these words for plans. They mean something will happen for sure.

These help you talk about official plans. You will sound better.

Conjugation Table

Subject Form of be + due to / set to + Base Verb Example Sentence
:--- :--- :--- :--- :---
I am due to / set to present I am due to present my findings tomorrow.
You are due to / set to travel You are set to travel to the conference.
He/She/It is due to / set to arrive The flight is due to arrive at 10 PM.
We are due to / set to launch We are set to launch the new campaign.
They are due to / set to be They are due to be promoted next quarter.

How This Grammar Works

These words show a plan exists. A timetable made the plan.
The event is not a guess; it's an item on an agenda.
This means a boss made a choice. The plan is ready.
Use going to for your ideas. Use these for official plans.
These words are formal. You are telling people a set schedule.
Use these for news and work. They sound professional.

Formation Pattern

1
The rules are easy. Follow them to write good sentences.
2
How to talk about plans for now or later:
3
Person + am/is/are + due to/set to + action word.
4
Use the simple action word. Do not add -s or -ing.
5
The committee is set to review the proposals next week.
6
I am due to receive my exam results on Monday.
7
Past Expectation Pattern:
8
For past plans, change am/is/are to was/were.
9
Person + was/were + due to/set to + action word.
10
This is often used to create a contrast between the plan and the reality.
11
The concert was due to start at 8 PM, but the band was late.
12
They were set to sign the deal, but the other party pulled out.

When To Use It

Only use these for schedules or official plans.
  • Official Schedules and Timetables: This is their most common habitat. Think transport, broadcast times, and public events.
  • The next train to Oxford is due to depart from Platform 3.
  • The Prime Minister's speech is set to be broadcast at 9 PM tonight.
  • Formal Plans, Deadlines, and Appointments: In business and academic life, these phrases signal firm, non-negotiable arrangements.
  • The quarterly report is due to be submitted by Friday.
  • We are set to meet with the investors on Tuesday morning.
  • Expected Natural or Logical Events: For events that are expected as the result of a natural progression or a calculated process.
  • The baby is due to be born in early May. (A biological calculation)
  • The comet is due to be visible again in 76 years. (An astronomical prediction)
  • News Reports and Announcements: Journalists and officials use these phrases constantly to report on planned corporate or governmental actions.
  • The company is set to lay off 500 workers.
  • New regulations are due to come into force on January 1st.

When Not To Use It

Do not use these for casual plans. It sounds strange.
  • Spontaneous Decisions: For choices made at the moment of speaking, will is the correct form.
  • Incorrect: I'm hungry. I am due to make a sandwich.
  • Correct: I'm hungry. I will make a sandwich.
  • Personal Intentions Without a Firm Schedule: If it's just a personal plan or a vague hope, be going to is more appropriate.
  • Incorrect: I'm set to travel the world someday.
  • Correct: I'm going to travel the world someday.
  • General Predictions: For predictions not based on a schedule, use will or be going to.
  • Incorrect: My team is due to win the match. (Unless the win is officially predetermined, which would be suspicious!)
  • Correct: I think my team will win the match.
  • Subjective Feelings or Hopes: These phrases are for objective, external plans, not internal emotions.
  • Incorrect: After this nap, I'm due to feel much more energetic.
  • Correct: I hope I will feel much more energetic after this nap.

Common Mistakes

People make mistakes. Learn why to stop them.
  • Mistake: Using the -ing form: *The flight is due to arriving soon.
  • Correction: The flight is due to arrive soon.
  • Why it's wrong: The structure is due to + base verb. The word to here is part of the infinitive (to arrive), not a preposition. Prepositions are followed by gerunds (-ing), but this is a different grammatical pattern.
  • Mistake: Omitting the to: *The results are due be released next week.
  • Correction: The results are due to be released next week.
  • Why it's wrong: The phrases are fixed expressions: be due to and be set to. Due by itself is an adjective with a different meaning and structure (e.g., The rent is due).
  • Mistake: Adding will: *The conference will be set to begin at 10.
  • Correction: The conference is set to begin at 10.
  • Why it's wrong: This is redundant. Both will and be set to mark the future. You only need one future marker. It's like saying "it will is going to happen."
  • Mistake: Overusing for personal, informal plans: *I'm due to watch a movie tonight.
  • Correction: I'm going to watch a movie tonight.
  • Why it's wrong: This is a conceptual error. Be due to implies an external schedule or obligation. Unless you have a strict, formal appointment to watch the movie, it sounds unnaturally formal. It suggests the movie-watching is a duty, not a leisure activity.

Memory Trick

Remember these simple ideas for each word.

- due to → Think due date. This phrase is perfect for events tied to a deadline, timetable, or an expected point in time. A library book has a due date. A project has a due date. A baby has a due date. This association reinforces the idea of an externally calculated or obligated schedule.

- The payment is due to be made by the 30th. (Deadline)

Set to means a plan is fixed. Someone decided it.

- The company is set to launch its new product. (The stage is set for the launch.)

Real Conversations

Here’s how you'll see these phrases used in modern, everyday contexts.

- Workplace Chat (e.g., Slack):

> Quick reminder team: the client presentation is due to be finalized by EOD. All slides need to be in the shared drive.

- News Headlines & Articles:

> The Federal Reserve is set to make a key announcement on interest rates this Wednesday, with markets watching closely.

- Texting about Travel:

> My flight is due to land at 7:40 PM, but we're delayed on the tarmac so it'll be later.

- University Email:

> Dear students, please note that the final module selections for the next academic year are due to be submitted via the student portal by June 15th.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Pick the right word for your plan. This list helps.
| Future Form | Primary Function | Example |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| be due to / be set to | Formal schedules & plans | The meeting is set to start at 2 PM. |
| be going to | Personal intentions; evidence-based predictions | I'm going to call him later. |
Use -ing for dinner with friends. Example: I am eating dinner.
| Simple Present | Fixed, unchanging timetables (e.g., public transport) | The bus leaves at 8:05 AM every day. |
| will | Spontaneous decisions; general predictions; promises | I'll have the salmon. |
Going to is my plan. Set to is an official plan.
Due to is for a deadline. I am meeting is friendly.

Progressive Practice

1

Write a sentence for each plan. Think about official dates.

2

Example: Prices will go up next year. The plan is set.

- Sample: Electricity prices are set to increase by 10% in the new year. (Set to works well for planned, deliberate actions like policy or price changes.)

3

Scenario: Your final project for a course has a submission deadline of December 1st.

- Sample: My final project is due to be submitted by December 1st. (Due to is perfect for deadlines.)

4

Example: A book comes out soon. The date is fixed.

- Sample: The author's much-anticipated new novel is set to be released in October. (Set to emphasizes the planned, prepared nature of a product launch.)

5

Scenario: You are telling a friend what time a package is supposed to arrive according to the delivery company.

- Sample: My package is due to arrive between 1 PM and 3 PM. (Due to fits the expected timing provided by an external schedule.)

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Are due to and set to completely interchangeable?
  • A: Often, yes, but there's a slight nuance. Set to implies more active preparation or a decision being made (The company is set to launch...). Due to often feels more passive, tied to a timetable or natural progression (The train is due..., The baby is due...). In many formal news reports, the difference is negligible.
  • Q: How formal are these phrases?
  • A: They are considered semi-formal to formal. While you might use The train is due... in casual chat, you would rarely say I'm due to wash the dishes. Stick to be going to or have to for everyday personal tasks and obligations.
  • Q: Can I use was/were due to for a plan that actually happened?
  • A: It's possible, but less common. The past form (was due to) usually creates an implicit contrast: this was the plan, but something else happened. For a past plan that was completed on schedule, you would typically just use the Past Simple: The meeting started at 10 AM.
  • Q: Can I use them with the passive voice?
  • A: Absolutely. It's extremely common, especially in formal contexts where the action is more important than the agent. For example: The new bridge is set to be completed next year. The structure is: Subject + be set/due to be + Past Participle.

Conjugating 'Be Due To' / 'Be Set To'

Subject Be Form Adjective Infinitive Example
I
am
due/set
to leave
I am due to leave at 5.
You
are
due/set
to start
You are set to start Monday.
He/She/It
is
due/set
to arrive
It is due to arrive soon.
We
are
due/set
to meet
We are set to meet the CEO.
They
are
due/set
to finish
They are due to finish today.

Contractions

Full Form Contraction
I am due to
I'm due to
You are set to
You're set to
He is due to
He's due to
They are set to
They're set to

Meanings

Grammar structures used to describe future events that are part of a schedule, a formal arrangement, or an expected timeline.

1

Expected Time (Due to)

Used when something is expected to happen at a specific time based on a timetable or deadline.

“The flight is due to land in ten minutes.”

“When is your assignment due to be handed in?”

2

Official Arrangement (Set to)

Used for fixed plans, often involving public figures, companies, or government actions.

“Interest rates are set to rise again next month.”

“The team is set to begin training on Monday.”

3

Reason/Cause (Due to + Noun)

While not a future tense, 'due to' can also mean 'because of'. It is important not to confuse this with the scheduled future.

“The delay was due to heavy rain.”

“Cancellations due to technical issues are common.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Scheduled Future (be due to, be set to)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + be + due to + verb
The train is due to leave.
Negative
Subj + be + not + due to + verb
The flight is not due to land yet.
Question
Be + subj + due to + verb?
Are you due to work tomorrow?
Affirmative (Set)
Subj + be + set to + verb
Prices are set to rise.
Negative (Set)
Subj + be + not + set to + verb
He is not set to play today.
Question (Set)
Be + subj + set to + verb?
Is she set to win the race?

Formality Spectrum

Formal
The train is due to arrive at 17:00.

The train is due to arrive at 17:00. (transportation)

Neutral
The train is due at 5:00.

The train is due at 5:00. (transportation)

Informal
The train's coming at 5.

The train's coming at 5. (transportation)

Slang
Train's here at 5.

Train's here at 5. (transportation)

Future Forms Hierarchy

Future English

Scheduled

  • Be due to Expected time
  • Be set to Official plan

Personal

  • Will Spontaneous
  • Going to Intention

Due vs Set

Be Due To
Timetables Trains, planes
Deadlines Homework, reports
Be Set To
Official Laws, news
Ready Finalized plans

Examples by Level

1

The bus is at 10:00.

2

The train comes soon.

3

My class starts now.

4

The shop opens at 9.

1

The flight is due at 6 PM.

2

When is the bus due?

3

The homework is due tomorrow.

4

The train is due in 5 minutes.

1

The doctor is due to see you now.

2

We are due to arrive by midnight.

3

The project is due to be finished on Friday.

4

Is the sun due to rise at 6 AM?

1

The government is set to announce new taxes.

2

The rocket is set to blast off at dawn.

3

The contract is due to expire next month.

4

Are they set to sign the deal today?

1

The economy is set to undergo a major transformation.

2

The witness is due to give evidence this afternoon.

3

The publication is due to be released posthumously.

4

The team is set to face their toughest rivals yet.

1

The treaty is set to be ratified pending further deliberation.

2

A decision is due to be handed down by the High Court.

3

The infrastructure is set to reach its capacity by 2030.

4

The gala is due to commence once the guests have arrived.

Easily Confused

Scheduled Future (be due to, be set to) vs Due to (Future) vs Due to (Reason)

Learners see 'due to' and always think it means 'because of'.

Scheduled Future (be due to, be set to) vs Be set to vs Be about to

Both mean something is happening soon.

Scheduled Future (be due to, be set to) vs Be due to vs Be to

Both are formal future forms.

Common Mistakes

The bus due at 5.

The bus is due at 5.

Missing the verb 'to be'.

I will due to go.

I am due to go.

Using 'will' with 'due to' is redundant.

The train is due for arrive.

The train is due to arrive.

Using 'for' instead of 'to' before the verb.

Is due the bus?

Is the bus due?

Incorrect word order in questions.

He is set for start.

He is set to start.

Using 'for' instead of the infinitive 'to'.

The flight due to land.

The flight is due to land.

Missing the auxiliary 'is'.

They due to arrive.

They are due to arrive.

Missing 'are'.

The delay was due to the train was late.

The delay was due to the train being late.

Confusing 'due to' (because of) with the future structure.

We are set to starting.

We are set to start.

Using the -ing form instead of the infinitive.

Is the meeting set to happening?

Is the meeting set to happen?

Incorrect verb form after 'to'.

The law is due to taking effect.

The law is due to take effect.

Even advanced learners occasionally use the gerund after 'to' in complex sentences.

Sentence Patterns

The ___ is due to ___ at ___.

___ is set to become the next ___.

Are you due to ___ soon?

The new ___ is set to be ___ next month.

Real World Usage

Airport Announcements constant

The flight to Paris is due to depart from Gate 12.

Business News very common

The company is set to merge with its largest competitor.

University Deadlines constant

Your essays are due to be submitted by Friday.

Weather Forecasts common

Storms are set to hit the coast by evening.

Job Interviews occasional

When are you due to leave your current position?

Sports Commentary common

The match is set to resume after the rain delay.

💡

News Reading

If you see 'Set to' in a headline, it almost always means 'is going to' but in an official capacity. It's a great way to spot future predictions in news.
⚠️

Due to vs. Because of

Never use 'due to' + verb to mean 'because of'. 'I was late due to I missed the bus' is wrong. Use 'due to the fact that' or just 'because'.
🎯

Sounding Professional

In emails, use 'I am due to finish...' instead of 'I will finish...' to sound like you are following a strict, professional schedule.
💬

Pregnancy

In English, we say 'The baby is due in [Month]' or 'She is due in [Month]'. This is the most common way to talk about an expected birth date.

Smart Tips

Use 'be due to' to sound objective. It makes the deadline sound like a fact rather than a personal choice.

I will finish the report on Tuesday. The report is due to be finished on Tuesday.

Remember it means 'because of'. If you want to talk about the future, look for the 'to + verb' pattern.

The flight is due to the weather. The flight is due to land at 6 PM.

Always use 'due'. It is the standard, polite way to ask about or state an expected birth date.

When will the baby come? When is the baby due?

Use 'be set to' for any big upcoming event or change.

The prices will go up soon. Prices are set to rise in the coming weeks.

Pronunciation

/djuː tuː/

Due to linking

In 'due to', the 'ue' and 'to' often blend. In American English, 'due' sounds like /duː/, while in British English, it often sounds like /djuː/.

/sɛt tə/

Set to reduction

The 'to' in 'set to' is often reduced to a schwa /tə/ in fast speech.

Rising on 'due'

Is the bus DUE to arrive? ↗

Focuses the question on the schedule/expectation.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

DUE is for a Date Under Expectation; SET is for a Situation Established Today.

Visual Association

Imagine a train conductor looking at a pocket watch for 'due to', and a news anchor reading a script for 'set to'.

Rhyme

When the clock says when, use due to then. When the plan is tight, set to is right.

Story

A businessman is due to arrive at the airport at 9:00. His company is set to merge with a rival at 10:00. He must be on time because the future is already written in his calendar.

Word Web

ScheduleTimetableDeadlineOfficialExpectedArrangementFixed

Challenge

Write three sentences about your next work or school week using 'be due to' for deadlines and 'be set to' for meetings or events.

Cultural Notes

British speakers use 'due to' very frequently for public transport announcements. It sounds very polite and official.

US news outlets use 'set to' extensively in headlines to save space and sound objective.

In universities, 'due' is the standard word for deadlines. Using 'set to' for a deadline would sound strange; 'due' is the only choice.

'Due' comes from the Old French 'deu', meaning 'owed'. 'Set' comes from the Old English 'settan', meaning 'to cause to sit' or 'to fix'.

Conversation Starters

When is your next project due to be finished?

What major changes are set to happen in your city this year?

Is the weather set to improve over the weekend?

When is the next flight to New York due to depart?

Journal Prompts

Describe your upcoming week using only 'be due to' and 'be set to'.
Write a fake news report about a celebrity or a politician using 'be set to' at least five times.
Discuss the future of technology. What advancements are set to change our lives in the next decade?
Write a letter to a travel agency asking when various tours are due to start and if they are set to include certain locations.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with 'due to' or 'set to'.

The train is ___ arrive at 5:30 PM.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: due to
We use 'due to' for timetabled arrivals.
Choose the most natural option for a news headline. Multiple Choice

The Prime Minister ___ resign tomorrow morning.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is set to
'Is set to' is the standard formal way to announce official plans in news.
Correct the error in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The meeting is due start at noon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is due to start
You must include 'to' before the verb.
Rewrite the sentence using 'due to'. Sentence Transformation

The bus is scheduled to arrive at 10:00.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The bus is due to arrive at 10:00.
'Be due to' replaces 'be scheduled to'.
Is the following sentence grammatically correct? True False Rule

'The company is set to launching a new product.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
It should be 'set to launch' (infinitive), not 'launching'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Is the flight on time? B: Yes, it ___ land in ten minutes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is due to
'Due to' is used for expected landing times.
Which phrase is used for 'Official Arrangements'? Grammar Sorting

Select the correct phrase.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: be set to
'Be set to' is specifically for official, fixed arrangements.
Match the context to the correct structure. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1: due to, 2: set to
Due to = schedule; Set to = official plan.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with 'due to' or 'set to'.

The train is ___ arrive at 5:30 PM.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: due to
We use 'due to' for timetabled arrivals.
Choose the most natural option for a news headline. Multiple Choice

The Prime Minister ___ resign tomorrow morning.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is set to
'Is set to' is the standard formal way to announce official plans in news.
Correct the error in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The meeting is due start at noon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is due to start
You must include 'to' before the verb.
Rewrite the sentence using 'due to'. Sentence Transformation

The bus is scheduled to arrive at 10:00.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The bus is due to arrive at 10:00.
'Be due to' replaces 'be scheduled to'.
Is the following sentence grammatically correct? True False Rule

'The company is set to launching a new product.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
It should be 'set to launch' (infinitive), not 'launching'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Is the flight on time? B: Yes, it ___ land in ten minutes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is due to
'Due to' is used for expected landing times.
Which phrase is used for 'Official Arrangements'? Grammar Sorting

Select the correct phrase.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: be set to
'Be set to' is specifically for official, fixed arrangements.
Match the context to the correct structure. Match Pairs

1. Train arrival, 2. Government plan

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1: due to, 2: set to
Due to = schedule; Set to = official plan.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

She ____ to give a speech at the conference next week.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is due
Complete the sentence with the appropriate scheduled future phrase. Fill in the Blank

The new restaurant ____ to open in July.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is set
Identify and correct the grammatical error. Error Correction

The team are set to win the championship.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The team is set to win the championship.
Correct the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

The CEO is due to announcing her retirement.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The CEO is due to announce her retirement.
Select the sentence that uses 'be due to' or 'be set to' correctly. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My appointment is due to start at 3 PM.
Choose the most appropriate sentence. Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences correctly uses the scheduled future?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I am set to go to the store.
Translate the sentence into English, using 'be set to'. Translation

Translate into English: 'The new policy is planned to take effect next month.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The new policy is set to take effect next month.","The new policy is set to be implemented next month."]
Translate this common phrase using 'be due to'. Translation

Translate into English: 'When is the baby expected to arrive?'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["When is the baby due to arrive?","When is the baby due?"]
Unscramble the words to form a correct sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a meaningful sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The new phone is due to be launched soon.
Put the words in the correct sequence. Sentence Reorder

Form a grammatically correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The presentation is set to start at 10 AM.
Match the beginning of the sentence with its correct ending. Match Pairs

Match the phrases:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Complete the sentences by matching the clauses. Match Pairs

Match the sentence beginnings to their scheduled endings:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

You can, but it sounds very formal. If you say `I am due to go to the gym`, it sounds like you have a very strict schedule. Usually, `I'm going to` is better for personal life.

Both mean 'because of', but only `due to` can be used as a future schedule marker. You cannot say `The train is owing to arrive`.

Yes, in this context it refers to the future. However, `set` can also be a past participle (e.g., 'The table is set'), but that is a different meaning.

Yes, but then it means 'because of'. For example, `The delay was due to rain`. To use it for the future, you need `to + verb`.

It is common in both, especially in journalism. However, `be due to` for transport is slightly more common in British English.

Yes! `The train was due to arrive at 5, but it was late`. This is a great way to talk about things that were supposed to happen but didn't.

Close, but `set to` implies it is officially scheduled, while `ready to` just means the person or thing is prepared.

Headlines often drop the verb `to be` to save space. This is called 'headlinese'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

tener previsto / estar programado

Spanish often uses the passive or reflexive forms where English uses 'be due to'.

French high

devoir / être prévu

French 'devoir' is more ambiguous as it also means 'must'.

German moderate

sollen / laut Fahrplan

German relies more on modal verbs than adjective structures like 'due to'.

Japanese high

yotei desu (~予定です)

Japanese 'yotei' is used for both personal and official plans, whereas 'due to' is more official.

Arabic high

min al-muqarrar (من المقرر)

The Arabic structure is more adverbial/prepositional.

Chinese moderate

yùjì (预计)

Chinese doesn't conjugate for tense, so the context of 'yùjì' provides the future meaning.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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