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'About' is a preposition but it can also be used as an adverb. In this lesson, we will discover al about this preposition.
About can be a preposition, an adverb, or an adjective and is used in many expressions. In this lesson, we have covered all of its uses.
1. 'About' as the Preposition
- 'About' shows the subject.
- 'About' shows the reason.
- 'About' shows the place.
- 'About' shows the quality.
- 'About' shows the process.
Use
1.1 'About' Shows the Subject
About as a preposition is used to talk about the subject of something.
- About has a similar meaning to 'concerned with, concerning.' For example:
What's the book
I want to talk
I would appreciate it if you do something
- About is used to show the subject of something that is the function or the purpose. Like:
Management is
In this case, after 'about' we use gerund.
It is all
1.2 'About' Shows the Reason
About is used after some adjectives like 'sad, excited, nervous, serious, worried, etc.' to introduce an adjective complement, such as:
I am angry
I feel sorry
1.3 'About' Shows the Place
About is used instead of 'around' in British English. Look:
I want to walk
I am looking
1.4 'About' Shows the Quality
In British English, about is used to talk about a specific quality of someone or something. For example:
There was a particular motivation
The structure is 'there is/are/was/were... + n + about.'
There is something particular
1.5 'About' Shows the Process
About means in the process of doing something, like:
When you are
'When you are in the middle of it'
Position in a Sentence
2. 'About' as an Adverb
- 'About' indicates approximation.
- 'About' indicates a place.
Use
2.1 'About' Shows 'Approximation'
About is used to show approximation before numbers or quantity. As a result, about modifies the determiner that cannot be removed. It can also stand before verbs to add more information to it.
- About before numbers means 'approximately.' In this case, 'about' is an adverb because it modifies the following determiner. For example:
I talked to
'20' cannot be left out because the adverb 'about' modifies it.
'About 10 percent of people' is the subject of the sentence.
- About has a similar meaning to 'almost' when it comes before main verbs. Look:
I am
2.2 'About' Indicates a Place
About in British English shows the place of something. It either comes after the verb be or after main verbs. Look:
- About has a similar meaning to 'nearby', mainly used after the to be as a main verb. For example:
There is flu
Is Jack
- About is used with some verbs and means 'around' in British English. Like:
I am walking
I am looking
Position in a Sentence
About modifies either a determiner or a verb. Take a look:
I talked to
'About' modifies an the determiner '20'.
I am
'About' modifies the verb 'be.'
3. 'About' as an Adjective
Use
About is a subject complement and is used as an adjective after the auxiliary verb 'be.' For example:
I am
She was
Position in a Sentence
About as an adjective is used after the auxiliary verb 'be' to create a near-future tense. We use an infinitive after the adjective about.
I am
An infinitive after 'about'
She was
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