Scheduled Future (be due to, be set to)
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.
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
Formation Pattern
The committee is set to review the proposals next week.
I am due to receive my exam results on Monday.
The concert was due to start at 8 PM, but the band was late.
They were set to sign the deal, but the other party pulled out.
When To Use It
- Official Schedules and Timetables: This is their most common habitat. Think transport, broadcast times, and public events.
The next train to Oxfordis due to departfrom Platform 3.The Prime Minister's speechis set to be broadcastat 9 PM tonight.
- Formal Plans, Deadlines, and Appointments: In business and academic life, these phrases signal firm, non-negotiable arrangements.
The quarterly reportis due to be submittedby Friday.Weare set to meetwith 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 babyis due to be bornin early May.(A biological calculation)The cometis due to be visibleagain 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 companyis set to lay off500 workers.New regulationsare due to come into forceon January 1st.
When Not To Use It
- Spontaneous Decisions: For choices made at the moment of speaking,
willis the correct form. - Incorrect:
I'm hungry. I am due to make a sandwich. - Correct:
I'm hungry. Iwill makea sandwich.
- Personal Intentions Without a Firm Schedule: If it's just a personal plan or a vague hope,
be going tois more appropriate. - Incorrect:
I'm set to travel the world someday. - Correct:
I'mgoing to travelthe world someday.
- General Predictions: For predictions not based on a schedule, use
willorbe 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 teamwill winthe 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 Iwill feelmuch more energetic after this nap.
Common Mistakes
- Mistake: Using the
-ingform:*The flight is due to arriving soon. - Correction:
The flightis due to arrivesoon. - Why it's wrong: The structure is
due to+ base verb. The wordtohere 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 resultsare due to bereleased next week. - Why it's wrong: The phrases are fixed expressions:
be due toandbe set to.Dueby 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 conferenceis set to beginat 10. - Why it's wrong: This is redundant. Both
willandbe set tomark 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'mgoing to watcha movie tonight. - Why it's wrong: This is a conceptual error.
Be due toimplies 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
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. |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. |Progressive Practice
Write a sentence for each plan. Think about official dates.
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.)
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.)
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.)
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 toandset tocompletely interchangeable? - A: Often, yes, but there's a slight nuance.
Set toimplies more active preparation or a decision being made (The company is set to launch...).Due tooften 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 sayI'm due to wash the dishes. Stick tobe going toorhave tofor everyday personal tasks and obligations.
- Q: Can I use
was/were due tofor 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 bridgeis set to be completednext 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.
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?”
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.”
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
| 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
The train is due to arrive at 17:00. (transportation)
The train is due at 5:00. (transportation)
The train's coming at 5. (transportation)
Train's here at 5. (transportation)
Future Forms Hierarchy
Scheduled
- Be due to Expected time
- Be set to Official plan
Personal
- Will Spontaneous
- Going to Intention
Due vs Set
Examples by Level
The bus is at 10:00.
The train comes soon.
My class starts now.
The shop opens at 9.
The flight is due at 6 PM.
When is the bus due?
The homework is due tomorrow.
The train is due in 5 minutes.
The doctor is due to see you now.
We are due to arrive by midnight.
The project is due to be finished on Friday.
Is the sun due to rise at 6 AM?
The government is set to announce new taxes.
The rocket is set to blast off at dawn.
The contract is due to expire next month.
Are they set to sign the deal today?
The economy is set to undergo a major transformation.
The witness is due to give evidence this afternoon.
The publication is due to be released posthumously.
The team is set to face their toughest rivals yet.
The treaty is set to be ratified pending further deliberation.
A decision is due to be handed down by the High Court.
The infrastructure is set to reach its capacity by 2030.
The gala is due to commence once the guests have arrived.
Easily Confused
Learners see 'due to' and always think it means 'because of'.
Both mean something is happening soon.
Both are formal future forms.
Common Mistakes
The bus due at 5.
The bus is due at 5.
I will due to go.
I am due to go.
The train is due for arrive.
The train is due to arrive.
Is due the bus?
Is the bus due?
He is set for start.
He is set to start.
The flight due to land.
The flight is due to land.
They due to arrive.
They are due to arrive.
The delay was due to the train was late.
The delay was due to the train being late.
We are set to starting.
We are set to start.
Is the meeting set to happening?
Is the meeting set to happen?
The law is due to taking effect.
The law is due to take effect.
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
The flight to Paris is due to depart from Gate 12.
The company is set to merge with its largest competitor.
Your essays are due to be submitted by Friday.
Storms are set to hit the coast by evening.
When are you due to leave your current position?
The match is set to resume after the rain delay.
News Reading
Due to vs. Because of
Sounding Professional
Pregnancy
Smart Tips
Use 'be due to' to sound objective. It makes the deadline sound like a fact rather than a personal choice.
Remember it means 'because of'. If you want to talk about the future, look for the 'to + verb' pattern.
Always use 'due'. It is the standard, polite way to ask about or state an expected birth date.
Use 'be set to' for any big upcoming event or change.
Pronunciation
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/.
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
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
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
The train is ___ arrive at 5:30 PM.
The Prime Minister ___ resign tomorrow morning.
Find and fix the mistake:
The meeting is due start at noon.
The bus is scheduled to arrive at 10:00.
'The company is set to launching a new product.'
A: Is the flight on time? B: Yes, it ___ land in ten minutes.
Select the correct phrase.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesThe train is ___ arrive at 5:30 PM.
The Prime Minister ___ resign tomorrow morning.
Find and fix the mistake:
The meeting is due start at noon.
The bus is scheduled to arrive at 10:00.
'The company is set to launching a new product.'
A: Is the flight on time? B: Yes, it ___ land in ten minutes.
Select the correct phrase.
1. Train arrival, 2. Government plan
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesShe ____ to give a speech at the conference next week.
The new restaurant ____ to open in July.
The team are set to win the championship.
The CEO is due to announcing her retirement.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Which of these sentences correctly uses the scheduled future?
Translate into English: 'The new policy is planned to take effect next month.'
Translate into English: 'When is the baby expected to arrive?'
Arrange these words into a meaningful sentence:
Form a grammatically correct sentence:
Match the phrases:
Match the sentence beginnings to their scheduled endings:
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
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
tener previsto / estar programado
Spanish often uses the passive or reflexive forms where English uses 'be due to'.
devoir / être prévu
French 'devoir' is more ambiguous as it also means 'must'.
sollen / laut Fahrplan
German relies more on modal verbs than adjective structures like 'due to'.
yotei desu (~予定です)
Japanese 'yotei' is used for both personal and official plans, whereas 'due to' is more official.
min al-muqarrar (من المقرر)
The Arabic structure is more adverbial/prepositional.
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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