"About" generally means approximately, concerning, or related to something, and it can also refer to being in the vicinity of a place or expressing intention. Below are its main uses:
Approximately / Around: When used to refer to a quantity or time, "about" means approximately or around that value. For example:
- "The movie starts at about 7:30 PM." (It starts approximately at 7:30 PM)
- "I have about 20 dollars in my wallet." (I have approximately 20 dollars)
Concerning / Related to: "About" can also mean concerning or related to a particular topic or subject. For example:
- "We had a discussion about climate change." (The discussion was related to climate change)
In the vicinity of: When talking about location, "about" can indicate being in the vicinity of a place without specifying an exact location. For example:
- "I saw him walking about the park." (He was walking around or nearby the park)
Expressing intention: In certain contexts, "about" can be used to express someone's intention or purpose. For example:
- "I'm thinking about going to the beach tomorrow." (I am considering or planning to go to the beach)
Example sentences
- I'll be there at about 7 PM for the dinner reservation.
- Can you tell me more about your favorite hobbies?
- The book has about 300 pages in total.
- We had a serious discussion about the company's future.
- I'm thinking about starting a new exercise routine.
- The teacher talked to the students about the upcoming field trip.
- The kids were running about the playground, laughing and playing.
- The restaurant is located at about a 15-minute walk from here.
- The movie lasts for about two hours, so make sure you have enough time.
- I have a few questions about the new project you proposed.
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