Preposition: About 1. About identifies a topic. Pattern 1: noun + be + about + noun This book is about prepositions. Nouns commonly used before about: argument, article, book, conversation, disagreement, discussion, joke, lecture, movie, news, play, program, report, speech, story Pattern 2: noun + about + noun She gave me advice about my loan. Nouns commonly used before about: assurance, complaint, comment, gossip, lie, question, statement, truth Pattern 3: verb + about + noun He often talks about his job. Verbs commonly used before about: agree, argue, brag, care, complain, cry, do, dream, forget, groan, hear, joke, know, laugh, lie, moan, pray, read, say, scream, sing, talk, think, wonder, worry, yell Expressions: to see about— 1. to delay a decision until more information is known We want to buy a house, but we will see about that later. 2. to get information about I called that office to see about getting a job there. to find out about—to get information about She called the school to find out about her daughter's behavior.

To in the direction of sth; towards sth: I walked to the office. It fell to the ground. It was on the way to the station. He’s going to Paris. my first visit to Africa He pointed to something on the opposite bank. Her childhood was spent travelling from place to place.

On ON 1- in or into a position covering, touching or forming part of a surface: a picture on a wall There’s a mark on your skirt. the diagram on page 5 Put it down on the table. He had been hit on the head. She climbed on to the bed. 2- supported by sb/sth: She was standing on one foot. Try lying on your back. Hang your coat on that hook. 3- used to show a means of transport: He was on the plane from New York. to travel on the bus / tube / coach I came on my bike. a woman on horseback 4- used to show a day or date: He came on Sunday. We meet on Tuesdays. on May the first / the first of May on the evening of May the first on one occasion on your birthday

7. About (adverb) can mean almost. Pattern: be + about + adjective She is about ready. Adjectives commonly used after about: complete, done, finished, perfect, ready, right, through 8. Expressions about + infinitive—ready to The show is about to begin. to be about time—an expression of annoyance that a person or thing has arrived late. ''It's about time you got here," said the mother when her daughter came home late. to have an air about one—to seem uncaring or unfriendly That new guy has an air about him. not about (adverb) + infinitive—not willing to I'm not about to sign that agreement. They're not about to go home early. about face 1. (verb) a military command to turn halfway around, and face the opposite direction The sergeant ordered, "About face!" He told his men to about face. 2. (noun) a complete change of opinion He did an about face when he learned the facts. 9. Phrasal verbs bring about (separable)—cause The storm brought about problems. The storm brought them about. come about (intransitive)—happen How did that situation come about? to get about (intransitive)—to be able to walk He is ninety years old, and he gets about very well. to find out about (nonseparable)—to get information or news about something When did you find out about the accident? http://useit.vn/content/view/1230/366/lang,english/

Pattern 4: verb + noun + about She knows something about airplanes. Typical verbs used with this pattern: ask, find out, know, learn, say Typical nouns used before about: a little, a lot, quite a bit, nothing, something, very little Pattern 5: verb + indirect object + about + noun They asked me about my trip. Verbs commonly used with this pattern: advise, ask, bother, contact, harass, question, remind, teach, tell, write Pattern 6: adjective + about + noun They were very kind about our late arrival. Adjectives commonly used before about: charming, kind, nasty, nice, mean, rude, sweet, understanding, unkind 2. About can identify the cause of an emotion or condition. Pattern: adjective + about + noun We are excited about our vacation. Adjectives commonly used before about: angry, anxious, bashful, concerned, confused, crazy, excited, glad, happy, mad, nervous, objective, optimistic, pessimistic, right, sick, silly, unhappy, upset, worried 3. About (adverb) can mean approximately. Pattern: about + number It is about nine o'clock. We have about ten dollars each. 4. About can mean in all parts of. Pattern 1: be + noun + about + noun There is a lot of excitement about town. Pattern 2: past participle of verb + about + noun Papers were scattered about the house. Typical past participles used before about: scattered, sprinkled, strewn, thrown 5. About can describe a noun. Pattern: something/nothing + (adjective) + about + noun There is something about her that I like. There is something adorable about her. There is nothing nice about that. Adjectives commonly used before about: adorable, attractive, bad, cute, exotic, fascinating, familiar, fishy, funny, good, interesting, nice, peculiar, special, strange, unusual, weird, wonderful 6. About can mean in all directions. Pattern 1: motion verb + about + noun We wandered about town for a few hours. Pattern 2: motion verb + about (adverb) The baby crawls about the house. Verbs commonly used with these patterns: crawl, go, jump, look, move, poke, run, walk, wander