UNIT 134. Verb + preposition 3 about and of ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

UNIT 134. Verb + preposition 3     about and of

A	hear ABOUT ... =be told about something √ Did you hear about the fire at the hotel yesterday? hear OF ... =know that somebody/something exists √ 'Who is Tom Hart?’       ‘I have no idea. I've never heard of him.’ (not heard from him) hear FROM .. . =be in contact with somebody √ ‘Have you heard from Jane recently?' ~Yes, she called me a few days ago.'
B	think ABOUT ... and think OF .. . When you think ABOUT something, you consider it, you concentrate your mind on it: √ I've thought about what you said and I've decided to take your advice. ‘Will you lend me the money?' I‘ll think about it.' √ When you think OF something, the idea comes to your mind: √ It was my idea. I thought of it first. (not thought about it) I felt embarrassed. I couldn't think of anything to say. (not think about anything) √ We also use think of when we ask or give an opinion: √ ‘what did you think of the movie?' ‘1 didn't think much of it.' (=I didn't like it much) The difference is sometimes very small and you can use of or about: √ When I'm alone, I often think of (or about) you. You can say think of or think about doing something (for possible future actions): √ My sister is thinking of (or about) going to Canada. (=she is considering it)
C	dream ABOUT .. . (when you are asleep) √ I dreamt about you last night. dream OF or ABOUT being something /doing something =imagine √ Do you dream of (or about) being rich and famous? I wouldn't dream OF doing something =I would never do it √ ‘Don't tell anyone what I said.' No, I wouldn't dream of it.' (=I would never do it)
D	complain (TO somebody) ABOUT ... =say that you are not satisfied √ We complained to the manager of the restaurant about the food. complain OF a pain, an illness etc. =say that you have a pain etc. √ We called the doctor because George was complaining of a pain in his stomach.
E	remind somebody ABOUT .. . = tell somebody not to forget √ I'm glad you reminded me about the meeting. I'd completely forgotten about it. remind somebody 0F ... = cause somebody to remember √ This house reminds me of the one I lived in when I was a child. Look at this photograph of Richard. Who does he remind you of? √
F	warn somebody ABOUT a person or thing which is bad, dangerous, unusual etc. √ I knew he was a strange person. I had been warned about him. (not warned of him) Vicky warned me about the traffic. She said it would be bad. √ warn somebody ABOUT or OF a danger, something bad which might happen later √ Scientists have warned us about (or of) the effects of climate change.

EXERCISES

134.1	Complete the sentences using hear or heard + a preposition (about/of/from). 1 I've never ______ heard of ____ Tom Hart. Who is he? 2 'Did you ________ the accident last night?' 'Yes, Vicky told me.' Jane used to call me quite often, but I haven't ________ her for a long time now. A: Have you ________ a writer called William Hudson? B: No, I don't think so. What sort of writer is he? 3 4 5 Thanks for your email. It was good to ________ you. 'Do you want to ________ our holiday?' 'Not now. Tell me later.' I live in a small town in the north of England. You've probably never ________ it. 6 7
134.2	Complete the sentences using think about or think of. Sometimes both about and of are possible. Use the correct form of think (think/thinking/thought). 1 You look serious. What are you ______ thinking about ________? 2 I need time to make decisions. I like to _____________ things carefully. That's a good idea. Why didn't I _____________ that? A: I've finished reading the book you lent me. B: What did you _____________ it? Did you think it was good? 3 4 5 We're _____________ going out to eat this evening. Would you like to come? I don't really want to go out with Tom tonight. I'll have to _____________ an excuse. When I was offered the job, I didn't accept immediately. I went away and _____________ it for a while. In the end I decided to take the job. 6 7 8 I don't _____________ much _____________ this coffee. It's like water. Katherine is homesick. She's always _____________ her family back home. A: Do you think I should apply to do the course? B: I can't _____________ any reason why not. 9 10
134.3	Put in the correct preposition. 1 Did you hear _____ about ______ the fire at the hotel yesterday? 2 'I had a strange dream last night.' 'Did you? What did you dream ____________ ?' Our neighbours complained ____________us ____________the noise we made last night. Kevin was complaining ____________pains in his chest, so he went to the doctor. I love this music. It reminds me ____________a warm day in spring. 3 4 5 6 He loves his job. He thinks his work all the time, he dreams ____________it, he talks ____________it and I'm fed up with hearing ____________it. 'We've got no money. What can we do?' 'Don't worry. I'll think ____________something.' Jackie warned me ____________the water. She said it wasn't safe to drink. We warned our children ____________the dangers of playing in the street. 7 8 9
134.4	Complete the sentences using these verbs (in the correct form) + a preposition: complain dream hear remind remind think think warn 1 It was my idea. I _____ thought of ____ it first. 2 Ben is never satisfied. He's always _________ something. I can't make a decision yet. I need time to _________ your proposal. Before you go into the house, I must _________ you _________ the dog. He's bitten people before, so be careful. 3 4 5 She's not a well-known singer. Not many people have _________ her. A: You wouldn't go away without telling me, would you? B: Of course not. I wouldn't _________ it. 6 7 I would have forgotten my appointment if Jane hadn't _________ me it. Do you see that man over there? Does he _________ you _________ anybody you know? 8

ANSWER KEY