Word Grammar - 'about' - Grammar Teacher

Word Grammar – ‘about’

June 8, 2012 By admin 28 comments

About

We can use about to mean ‘concerning’

I have heard all about it.
There is nothing we can do about it.
The great thing about her is that she never gives up.

We can use about to mean ‘approximately’. We can also use around for this but about is less formal.

About six hundred people were present.
About half the people agreed.
Come round at about six.

We can use How about and What about to make suggestions.

What about asking Tom?
How about leaving that for the time being?
What about a break?

We can also use What about ( but not How about) for more genuine questions.

What about the workers? Have you thought about them?
What about the dog? What do we do with her?

We use about and on to talk about the subject of a discussion. We use on for more formal situations..

They talked about the bad economic situation.
He gave a lecture on the economy.

About can mean ‘here and there’.

She is always out and about.
He sits about doing nothing.
They go about interviewing the public.

Just about means ‘almost’.

I have just about finished.
I have had just about enough of him and his patronizing tone.
The money we get will just about pay for the new equipment.

Be about to means that something is on the point of happening.

I am about to change jobs.
He is about to give in his resignation.
Please listen carefully. i am about to say something important.

Here are some useful expressions using about

no doubt about

There is no doubt about his ability but he doesn’t work well with other people.

bring about change

We need to bring about change quickly or the company will go bankrupt.

everybody is talking about it

Everybody is talking about the argument they had.

be asked about

I am often asked about how I became so successful.

speak to them about

You need to speak to them about this and make sure they never do it again.

anything I can do about it?

Is there anything I can do about my financial situation?

concerned about

i’m concerned about Simon. He is acting very strangely.

speculate about

We can only speculate about what happened. We will never know for sure.

about to change

I am not happy with what has been happening. I must warn you that things are about to change around here.

know a lot about

Ask Sally. She knows a lot about that.

talking about

What are you two whispering about?

known about

Little is known about what happened.

hear about

I know you have just been to Hawaii. I want to hear all about it.

keep your wits about you

Be very careful. There are lots of thieves around. Keep your wits about you.

exercise 1
exercise 2
exercise 3
exercise 4

28 Comments

Javier Lopez

Jun 6, 2012, 7:34 am

Hi:
We can say now
“Ask Pearson. He knows a lot about about.”

Thank you very much.

Amos.Jawut

Jun 6, 2012, 8:47 am

Thank you so much about your teaching

Richard

Jun 6, 2012, 9:40 am

I so appreciate your email. So many helpful things.

Sometime I hope you will create a few for less advanced English students.

Thank you for your grand service

admin

Jun 6, 2012, 1:32 pm

I used to make lower level lessons but I lost money doing it.

Kalana Madusanka

Jun 6, 2012, 2:15 pm

you are helping me a lot…
Thank you

Irian Vasallo Baez

Jun 6, 2012, 2:20 pm

i always enjoy the lessons and your comments very much. everyweek i am eager to know more. i feel i can learn the language through all the exercises and examples.
thanks a lot,
Ms Irian

Mike

Jun 6, 2012, 2:44 pm

The exercises are very enriching. Bravo and keep up the spirit!

Ali Zahedi

Jun 6, 2012, 3:52 pm

Thanks a million for all lessons which you have sent me. I wonder if you mind keeping sending such interesting lessons in order to make my English knowladge as perfect as possible.

Solomon

Jun 6, 2012, 3:15 am

Is good tahnk you

Solomon

khanindra kalita

Jun 6, 2012, 5:41 am

please send on the english lesson.

bichitra medhi

Jun 6, 2012, 5:46 am

please send on the english lesson.

Boukari Illiassou

Jun 6, 2012, 9:40 am

Hi ladies and gentlmen!My only dream is to be an English teacher.Ilike English so much.I’m more involved and hope to go deep.I only need Diploma wich can help me to teach.My country is a french speaking one.
Please assist me to achieve my goal.
Kind regards.
Illias

Mutana faruk

Jun 6, 2012, 11:30 am

Thank you for your posting.

moon

Jun 6, 2012, 5:56 pm

It is very useful.
that is Great

MARK BOL

Jun 6, 2012, 3:19 pm

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to you for the constant information I get about the use of modern english. I have been able to update my knowledge and understanding. I hope to have more from you in the future.

Regards
Mark Bol.

Behin

Jun 6, 2012, 5:36 am

Thanx a lot!uh actually I wanted to ask sth!is it possible for you to give us some informal words or phrases or anything?!
again thanx a lot!

Mathey

Jun 6, 2012, 2:18 pm

Hoo! So great. I like to overcome my own obstacle time.

Khalid Kamal

Jun 6, 2012, 7:14 am

Thank you for providing excellent service to teach English.
I would love to learn more.

Regards,

Khalid Kamal

Pyae Sone

Jun 6, 2012, 3:27 pm

Dear Pearson,

Thank you so much for your teaching.I haven’t got your teaching lessons since June 8.
Its not only me I think, every students haven’t got it. Its true?Please send more lessons.
Thanks a lot.
Pyae

admin

Jun 6, 2012, 8:47 am

I can only send more free lessons when I have the time to write them 😉

I offer a service where you can have lessons all year for a small sum :

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pyae sone

Jul 7, 2012, 11:14 am

Dear Pearson,

I haven’t been received your English lessons since last 2 or 3 weeks. So please send me your lessons routine. Thanks a lot.

admin

Jul 7, 2012, 11:47 am

https://grammar-teacher.com/loyal-subscriber/

There is a form to fill in.

Raffa

Jul 7, 2012, 4:44 pm

Excellent tips, for people like me,… who do not come from an English speaking country… best regards,

Raffael Salas-delgado

tomas

Jul 7, 2012, 12:29 pm

This lesson is very good

Sunitha Srivastav

Oct 10, 2012, 12:14 pm

Dear Pearson,
Your lessons are proving a great help to me. But, I’m not receiving your lessons now a days. Please send it to me, Please treat this as special request.

With regards,
Sunitha Srivastav