"We went to leave" and "we were about to leave" serve distinct storytelling functions despite their superficial similarity. "We went to leave" emphasizes an active attempt to depart that gets interrupted, creating a more conversational and vivid narrative flow. Conversely, "we were about to leave" focuses on the timing of an event, offering a more neutral description of a situation occurring just before departure. These phrases apply to any interrupted action, such as calling someone or starting a task, rather than just physical travel. Using these expressions effectively pulls listeners into a story, making them feel present during the sequence of events. Personal anecdotes, such as car trouble or misplaced keys, illustrate how these nuances enhance engagement and clarity when recounting daily frustrations or unexpected interruptions.
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