Collocations

14 Common Combinations with About in English

Combinations with the word “about” are essential in the English language. They connect a verb with “about” to convey a specific meaning. For instance, “argue about” means to have a disagreement or debate on a certain topic. In this article, you’ll learn some common verb + “about” combinations. It includes examples and opportunities to practice.

List of Combinations with ABOUT

  • Ask about
  • Argue about
  • Be about
  • Boast about
  • Care about
  • Be concerned about
  • Decide about
  • Dream about
  • Forget about
  • Know about
  • Laugh about
  • Protest about
  • Think about
  • Worry about
Combinations with AboutPin
Combinations with About – Created by 7ESL

Combinations with About with Example Sentences

Ask about

  • Meaning: To inquire or request information about something.
  • Example: He asked about the schedule for the day to plan his activities.

Argue about

  • Meaning: To disagree or have a dispute with someone over a particular topic or issue.
  • Example: The politicians argued about the policy during the debate.

Be about

  • Meaning: To refer to or concern a particular topic or subject.
  • Example: The play was about a family drama.

Boast about

  • Meaning: To talk with excessive pride or self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities.
  • Example: He boasted about his achievements during the interview and got the job.

Care about

  • Meaning: To have concern or interest in something or someone.
  • Example: I don’t care about material possessions and value experiences more.

Be concerned about

  • Meaning: To feel worried or anxious about something.
  • Example: He was concerned about his health and went to the doctor for a check-up.

Decide about

  • Meaning: To make a choice or come to a conclusion about something.
  • Example: The team decided about the strategy for the game and won.

Dream about

  • Meaning: To have thoughts, images, or sensations in the mind during sleep.
  • Example: They frequently dream about winning the lottery.

Forget about

  • Meaning: To fail to remember or consider something.
  • Example: She wishes to forget about her ex and find new love.

Know about

  • Meaning: To have information or knowledge about something.
  • Example: The teacher knows about the strengths and weaknesses of each student and provides personalized guidance.

Laugh about

  • Meaning: To express amusement or joy through laughter.
  • Example: They frequently laugh about their childhood memories and share stories.

Protest about

  • Meaning: To express strong disapproval or objection to something publicly.
  • Example: The workers protest about the low wages and unsafe working conditions.

Think about

  • Meaning: To consider or reflect on something in the mind.
  • Example: They claim they don’t think about the future, as they live in the moment.

Worry about

  • Meaning: To feel anxious or concerned about something.
  • Example: The parents worry about their children’s education and future.

Practice and Exercises

Fill in the blank

  1. He decided to ___________ the job offer before accepting it.

Answer: Ask about

  1. They always seem to ___________ the same thing and can never agree. Answer:

Answer: Argue about

  1. The book is ___________ a young girl who discovers a magical world. Answer:

Answer: Be about

  1. He loves to ___________ his accomplishments and achievements to his friends.

Answer: Boast about

  1. She only ___________ her grades and doesn’t care about anything else.

Answer: Care about

  1. She’s ___________ the impact of climate change on the planet.

Answer: Be concerned about

  1. He needs to ___________ which university to attend next year.

Answer: Decide about

  1. She often ___________ becoming a famous actress one day.

Answer: Dream about

  1. He tends to ___________ important deadlines and appointments.

Answer: Forget about

  1. She has a lot of ___________ the latest news and current events.

Answer: Know about

A2 Knowledge Check · 5 questions

14 Common Combinations with About in English — Practice Quiz

1 / 5
Q1

Question 1: Which verb + about combination means 'to talk with excessive pride about one's achievements'?

Question 1 options
'Boast about' means to talk with excessive pride or self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities. The other combinations have different meanings.
Q2

Question 2: 'Be concerned about' means to make a choice or come to a conclusion about something.

Question 2 options
This is false. 'Be concerned about' means to feel worried or anxious about something. The combination that means to make a choice or come to a conclusion is 'decide about'.
Q3

Question 3: She often ___ becoming a famous actress one day.

Question 3 options
'Dreams about' is the correct combination here, meaning to have thoughts or images in the mind, often about wishes or hopes. The other options do not fit the context of imagining a future career.
Q4

Question 4: Match each verb + about combination with its meaning.

Question 4 options
ask about
forget about
laugh about
protest about
to express amusement
to express strong disapproval
to inquire for information
to fail to remember

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

'Ask about' means to inquire for information. 'Forget about' means to fail to remember. 'Laugh about' means to express amusement. 'Protest about' means to express strong disapproval publicly.
Q5

Question 5: The parents ___ their children's education and future.

Question 5 options
'Worry about' means to feel anxious or concerned about something. This matches the context of parents feeling anxious regarding their children's education. The other options do not fit the meaning of the sentence.

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