Page 231 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

P r e p o s i t i o n s a f t e r v e r b s ( 1 )

learn about/of &c know about/of We use either about or of with learn and know when we talk
about something that happens to somebody or something, or about a particular event. Of is more
formal with these verbs:
• I have just learnt about/of the death of Dr Brown. (= found out about)
• What little is known about/of the plans suggests they will be unpopular.
know &c know about/of We use know + noun when we talk about personal experience of
people and things. Otherwise, we use know about/of + noun. Compare:
n • My uncle knew Churchill, and
• • The whole country knew about/of Churchill's love of cigars.
learn about &t know about We use learn about and know about (not 'of') when we talk about a
particular subject that we study:
• They began to learn about nutrition when they were at primary school.
• Ten years ago we knew little about black holes.

ask about &c enquire about We use ask about or enquire (or inquire) about when we talk about
getting information about something or someone:
• He got angry when they started to ask about / enquire about his private life.
ask after &c enquire after We use ask after or enquire (or inquire) after to ask for information
about a person (but not a thing), particularly concerning their health. Ask/enquire about can also
a be used:
• • I'm phoning to ask (or enquire) after/about Mrs Brown. She's in Ward 4.

ask for You use ask for (not 'enquire for') to ask someone to give you something or do
something:
• He finished the drink quickly and asked for another.
enquire into When we enquire into (not 'ask into') some organisation, event or person we try to
find out facts in order to investigate them:
• The body has been set up to enquire into near-accidents reported by airline pilots.
think of/about Think of is preferred when you talk about something that suddenly enters your
mind (it occurs to you) and think about when you talk about something that you consider over a
longer period:
• He suddenly thought of Hilary. Perhaps she would help, (rather than ...thought about...)
• We have been thinking about Jan and her problems for a while, (rather than ...thinking of...)
think about We use think about (rather than 'think of) when we talk about concentrating on
a something:
• • Your job is to think about safety and nothing else.

think of We use think of (rather than 'think about') to give opinions and ask about them, to talk
about an idea, and to talk about remembering something. We also prefer of in the pattern (be)
thinking of + -ing to talk about intentions:
What do you think of my car? I've just bought it.
I don't think a lot of his work. (= it's not very good)
He thinks a lot of his sister. (= likes/respects her)
He's always thinking of ways to increase our sales.
I know it's here somewhere. I just can't think of where I've put it.
I'm thinking of selling my motorbike.

Prepositions after adjectives => Prepositions after verbs (2) and (3) =
Two- and three-word verbs =>