Difference between revisions of "Language/English/Vocabulary/About"
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[[File:About.jpg|thumb]] | |||
Hi English learners, | |||
In this lesson, we will learn different use of the word "About". | |||
=="About" Versus "round"== | |||
About + infinitive (with to) means 'going to very soon’; ‘just going to’ | |||
Examples: | |||
*Don't go out now - we're about to have lunch. | |||
*I was about to go to bed when the telephone rang. | |||
' | *"Not about to" can mean 'unwilling to’: I ’m not about to pay 100 dollars for that dress. | ||
=="(a)round" Versus "about"== | |||
===circular movement, etc: (a)round=== | |||
We use both round and around (American English usually around) for movement or position in a circle or a curve. | We use both round and around (American English usually around) for movement or position in a circle or a curve. | ||
| Line 24: | Line 25: | ||
Examples: | Examples: | ||
She walked (a)round the car and looked at the wheels. | *She walked (a)round the car and looked at the wheels. | ||
I'd like to travel (a)round the world. | *I'd like to travel (a)round the world. | ||
‘Where do you live?' ‘Just (a)round the corner.’ | *‘Where do you live?' ‘Just (a)round the corner.’ | ||
===touring, distribution: round=== | |||
We also use round or around (American English usually around) to talk about going to all (or most) parts of a place, or giving things to everybody in a group. | We also use round or around (American English usually around) to talk about going to all (or most) parts of a place, or giving things to everybody in a group. | ||
| Line 36: | Line 37: | ||
Examples: | Examples: | ||
We walked (a)round the old part o f the town. | *We walked (a)round the old part o f the town. | ||
Can I look (a)round? Could you pass the cups (a)round, please? | *Can I look (a)round? Could you pass the cups (a)round, please? | ||
===indefinite movement and position=== | |||
We use "round" or "about" (American English usually around) to refer to movements or positions that are not very clear or definite: ‘here and there’, ‘in lots of places’, ‘in different parts of, ‘somewhere in’ and similar ideas. | We use "round" or "about" (American English usually around) to refer to movements or positions that are not very clear or definite: ‘here and there’, ‘in lots of places’, ‘in different parts of, ‘somewhere in’ and similar ideas. | ||
| Line 48: | Line 47: | ||
Examples: | Examples: | ||
The children were running around/about everywhere. | *The children were running around/about everywhere. | ||
Stop standing around/about and do some work. | *Stop standing around/about and do some work. | ||
‘Where's Jack?’ ‘Somewhere around/about.’ | *‘Where's Jack?’ ‘Somewhere around/about.’ | ||
I like doing odd jobs around/about the house. | *I like doing odd jobs around/about the house. | ||
We also use these words in some common expressions to talk about time-wasting or silly activity. | We also use these words in some common expressions to talk about time-wasting or silly activity. | ||
| Line 60: | Line 59: | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
Stop fooling around/about. We're late. | *Stop fooling around/about. We're late. | ||
=="about" Versus "on"== | |||
We use "about" to talk about ordinary, more general kinds of communication. | We use "about" to talk about ordinary, more general kinds of communication. | ||
| Line 70: | Line 69: | ||
Compare: | Compare: | ||
*a book for children about Africa and its peoples | |||
*a textbook on African history | |||
*a conversation about money | |||
*a lecture on economics | |||
- | ==Other Lessons== | ||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Best-Songs-to-Learn|Best Songs to Learn]] | |||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Slang-contractions|Slang contractions]] | |||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Useful-Sentenses|Useful Sentenses]] | |||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Best-1000-Things-to-Do-in-Paris|Best 1000 Things to Do in Paris]] | |||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Altogether-and-all-together|Altogether and all together]] | |||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Along|Along]] | |||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Collocations-with-make|Collocations with make]] | |||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Top-1000-Gift-Ideas|Top 1000 Gift Ideas]] | |||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Give-up-VS-Abandon|Give up VS Abandon]] | |||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Funny-English-Idioms|Funny English Idioms]] | |||
<span links></span> | |||
Latest revision as of 10:24, 27 March 2023
Hi English learners,
In this lesson, we will learn different use of the word "About".
"About" Versus "round"[edit | edit source]
About + infinitive (with to) means 'going to very soon’; ‘just going to’
Examples:
- Don't go out now - we're about to have lunch.
- I was about to go to bed when the telephone rang.
- "Not about to" can mean 'unwilling to’: I ’m not about to pay 100 dollars for that dress.
"(a)round" Versus "about"[edit | edit source]
circular movement, etc: (a)round[edit | edit source]
We use both round and around (American English usually around) for movement or position in a circle or a curve.
Examples:
- She walked (a)round the car and looked at the wheels.
- I'd like to travel (a)round the world.
- ‘Where do you live?' ‘Just (a)round the corner.’
touring, distribution: round[edit | edit source]
We also use round or around (American English usually around) to talk about going to all (or most) parts of a place, or giving things to everybody in a group.
Examples:
- We walked (a)round the old part o f the town.
- Can I look (a)round? Could you pass the cups (a)round, please?
indefinite movement and position[edit | edit source]
We use "round" or "about" (American English usually around) to refer to movements or positions that are not very clear or definite: ‘here and there’, ‘in lots of places’, ‘in different parts of, ‘somewhere in’ and similar ideas.
Examples:
- The children were running around/about everywhere.
- Stop standing around/about and do some work.
- ‘Where's Jack?’ ‘Somewhere around/about.’
- I like doing odd jobs around/about the house.
We also use these words in some common expressions to talk about time-wasting or silly activity.
Example:
- Stop fooling around/about. We're late.
"about" Versus "on"[edit | edit source]
We use "about" to talk about ordinary, more general kinds of communication.
"On" suggests that a book, talk, etc is more serious, suitable for specialists.
Compare:
- a book for children about Africa and its peoples
- a textbook on African history
- a conversation about money
- a lecture on economics
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Best Songs to Learn
- Slang contractions
- Useful Sentenses
- Best 1000 Things to Do in Paris
- Altogether and all together
- Along
- Collocations with make
- Top 1000 Gift Ideas
- Give up VS Abandon
- Funny English Idioms