AAE Q62: 'about to'

Hi,

Could you explain what difference is between "about to" and the present continuous.

For example:

I am leaving for my holiday.
I am about to leave for my holiday.

Thanks


Hi,

I am leaving for my holiday.

The present continuous is used here to talk about either a future arrangement (I am leaving for my holiday soon/next week etc) or something that is happening at the moment of speaking (right now I am leaving for my holiday)

I am about to leave for my holiday.

'About to' expresses your intention or plan to do something. Here you are telling someone that you will leave very soon but you are not in the process of leaving (as in the first case).

Hope this helps

Matt