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.