Page 229 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

A b o u t a n d o n ; b y a n d w i t h
by
with
and
and
About
on;
About and on
About and on
We can use about and on to mean 'concerning' or 'on the subject of.
We can use about and on to mean 'concerning' or 'on the subject of.
We use about, not on after the verbs argue, complain, find out, joke, know, protest, quarrel,
We use about, not on after the verbs argue, complain, find out, joke, know, protest, quarrel,
read, teach (someone), tell (someone), worry; ask, enquire/inquire, learn, think (see also Unit
read, teach (someone), tell (someone), worry; ask, enquire/inquire, learn, think (see also Unit
agree, hear, laugh (see also Unit 112); care, wonder (see also Unit 113); and after the
111);
111); agree, hear, laugh (see also Unit 112); care, wonder (see also Unit 113); and after the
quarrel:
misunderstanding,
argument, chat,
fuss, joke,
letter,
nouns
nouns argument, chat, fuss, joke, letter, misunderstanding, quarrel:
I didn't find out about Sara's illness until my brother telephoned me.
2 • ¢ I didn't find out about Sara's illness until my brother telephoned me.
• ¢ Misunderstanding about the cause of malaria is common.
Misunderstanding about the cause of malaria is common.
We use on, not about, after the verbs comment, concentrate, focus, insist, reflect (= think):
We use on, not about, after the verbs comment, concentrate, focus, insist, reflect (= think):
I found it it difficult to concentrate on my homework with the football on TV.
• ¢ I found difficult to concentrate on my homework with the football on TV.
They insisted on seeing my passport, even though I was nowhere near the border.
• ¢ They insisted on seeing my passport, even though I was nowhere near the border.
After some other verbs and nouns we can use either about or on. These include the verbs
After some other verbs and nouns we can use either about or on. These include the verbs
disagree, lecture,
speak,
agree,
speculate, talk, write, and the nouns advice,
decide,
advise,
advise, agree, decide, disagree, lecture, speak, speculate, talk, write, and the nouns advice,
decision, idea, information, lecture, opinion,
agreement, book/article/paper, consultation, decision, idea, information, lecture, opinion,
agreement, book/article/paper, consultation,
question:
question:
speculate about/on whether the minister can survive this time.
• ¢ The press is starting to to speculate about/on whether the minister can survive this time.
The press is starting
agreement about/on what caused the building to collapse.
• ¢ There is little agreement about/on what caused the building to collapse.
There is little
or
we
nouns
formal
to
in B
can
academic
speech
or writing,
and
after the
refer
we
verbs
When
When we refer to formal or academic speech or writing, after the verbs and nouns in B we can
use either about or on. However, we prefer about when we refer to more informal speech or
use either about or on. However, we prefer about when we refer to more informal speech or
writing. Compare:
writing. Compare:
(this suggests a formal speech such as
spoke on the recent advances in teaching reading,
She
• * She spoke on the recent advances in teaching reading. (this suggests a formal speech such as
a lecture; or ...spoke about...) and
a lecture; or ...spoke about...) and
Jim and Anita
seemed surprised when I spoke about buying their car.
(this suggests an
• ¢ Jim and Anita seemed surprised when I spoke about buying their car. (this suggests an
on...')
not '...spoke
informal conversation; not ‘...spoke on...')
informal conversation;
{or ...a book about...) and
We've
been asked to study a book on the history of Norway,
• * We've been asked to study a book on the history of Norway. (or ...a book about...) and
{not ...a book on...)
It's a book about three men and their dog on a boating holiday, {not ...a book on...)
• * It's a book about three men and their dog on a boating holiday.
By and with
Byand with
use by and with to talk about how something is done. We use by (followed by a noun or
We can use by and with to talk about how something is done. We use by (followed by a noun or
We can
when we talk about what action we take to do something; we use with (followed by a
-ing)
-ing) when we talk about what action we take to do something; we use with (followed by a
when we talk about what we use to do something:
noun) when we talk about what we use to do something:
noun)
only avoided the children by braking hard and swerving to the right.
• ¢ He only avoided the children by braking hard and swerving to the right.
He
succeeded by sheer willpower.
• « She succeeded by sheer willpower.
She
a bottle opener, so I had to open it with a screwdriver.
• ¢ I didn't have
I didn't have a bottle opener, so I had to open it with a screwdriver.
big fish with a small rod like that.
I told him that he couldn't hope to catch
• ¢ • ¢ I told him that he couldn't hope to catch a a big fish with a small rod like that.
With: reasons = use determiner before the noun (e.g. a(n), the, this, that, my, her) or if the
We use by in certain common phrases:
We use by in certain common phrases:
off by mistake and lost all my work.
Iturned the computer
I turned the computer off by mistake and lost all my work.
Other phrases like this include by accident; by phone; by bus/car, etc.; by air/road/rail/
Other phrases like this include by accident; by phone; by bus/car, etc.; by air/road/rail/
land/sea; by cheque / credit card; by degrees/stages; by heart; by force; by hand; by post/fax/
land/sea; by cheque / credit card; by degrees/stages; by heart; by force; by hand; by post/fax/
e-mail {or E-mail).
e-mail {or E-mail).
a
if there is
However, if there is a determiner before the noun (e.g. a(n), the, this, that, my, her) or if the
However,
For example:
by.
other than
a preposition
is plural, we
noun
noun is plural, we use a preposition other than by. For example:
I ordered it on the phone.
I learnt about it in an email from my boss.
• ¢
J ordered it on the phone.
• ¢
[learnt about it in an email from my boss.
I never travel in buses.
She turned up in her new car.
• ¢
I never travel in buses.
She turned up in her new car.
• ¢
By: time =
With: reasons =
By:fme=>