用作介詞與副詞的about用法易錯點 

1. 表示“關于”，注意與介詞 on 的區別：about 指泛泛地或非正式地談論某事，其談論的內容也較為普通；而 on 則指比較有系統地或理論性較強地論述某事，其論述的內容較正式或較為嚴肅。試比較：

He was reading a book on ethics.  他正在讀一本關于倫理學的書。

He wrote a book on scientific baby care.  他寫了一本有關科學育嬰的書。

She’s writing a book on her travels in China. 她正在撰寫一本有關她在中國旅行的書。

He has written a book about angling.  他寫了一本關于釣魚的書。

She had written a book about her childhood. (G51) 她寫過一本關于自己童年的書。

He has been working on the illustration of a book about animals.  他一直在給一本有關動物的書畫插圖。

再比較：

(1) a book on rabbits 指的是一本論及兔子的學術著作

(2) a book about rabbits 指的可能是一本供小孩看的關于兔子的故事書

2. 表示“帶在身上”，一般指隨身帶的小物品，有時可與表示類似含義的介詞 with / on 換用：

He had a pistol about [on, with] him. 他身上帶著一支手槍。

Have you got any money about [on, with] you?  你身上帶錢沒有?

How much cash do you have about [on, with] you? 你身上帶著多少現金？

Do you have any identification / ID about [on, with] you?  你身上帶著身份證件了嗎?

3. 用于數字前，表示“大約”：

A generation is about 25 years. 一代大約是25年。

Please don’t wake me till about 8.  請在八點左右才叫醒我。

I will call for you about 2.30. 我將在2點30分左右來接你。

I went to sleep about 11 last midnight.  我昨晚大約是在十一點睡著的。

4. 在動詞 know, hear, speak 等之后用不用介詞 about / of, 含義有差別：

I have heard about him, but I don’t know him. 我聽到過一些關于他的事，但不認識他這個人。

I’ve heard of him, but I don’t know about him. 我聽說過他，但我不知道有關他的情況。

比較：

know sb 認識某人

know of sb 知道有某人

know about sb 知道有關某人的事或情況

hear sb 聽到某人（講話）

hear of sb聽說過某人

hear about sb 聽到關于某人的事或情況

5. be about to (do)，意為“即將”“馬上”。注意該短語不與具體的時間狀語（如：soon, tomorrow, immediately 等）連用：

He was just about to burst into song. 他就要唱起歌來了。

Work was about to start on a new factory building. 新廠房即將動工。

I was about to leave when you came in, but I won’t go now.  剛才我正要離開， 你就來了，我現在不走了。

Please buckle up now；we’re about to land. 現在請系好安全帶，我們就要著陸了。

比較正誤句：

正：He is about to return to his homeland. 他即將回鄉。

誤：He is about to return to his homeland tomorrow.

另外注意：

(1) 該短語可與并列連詞when（這時）連用：

I was (just) about to go to bed when the telephone rang. 我正要上床睡覺，這時突然電話鈴響了起來。

(2) be about 之后可接動名詞（但 be about to 之后不能接動名詞）：

I was (just) about going to bed when the telephone rang. 我正要上床睡覺，這時突然電話鈴響了起來。