About 这个词的意思可不只是“关于”

About 这个词的意思可不只是“关于”  

内容简介 我们都知道，英语单词“about”的常用含义是“关于，有关”。不过在口语中，“about”还有一个特殊的用法。在本集《》中，菲菲和 Neil 不仅会教给大家“about”的另一个用法，还会介绍一位叫做 Mark 的神秘嘉宾。

大家好，欢迎收听BBC英语教学的《》节目。我是冯菲菲。

Neil

And I’m Neil.

In this programme, we’re talking about… ‘about’!

Neil

About ‘about’? 

About ‘about’! 

Neil

This is getting silly! We are indeed talking about the word ‘about’ – but not as it’s usually used. 

是的，我们来给大家举例说明。Is Mark about today?

Neil

Yes, I saw him this morning. 

那么也就是说刚才我在问你“Is Mark about today?”的时候，我指的并不是“Mark 这个人本身和‘today 今天’是不是有关系”，而我的意思是“Mark 在吗？Is Mark here”？

Neil

 ‘About’ means ‘here’, or ‘somewhere near here’. 

“Mark’s about.”的意思就是“Mark’s near here.”By the way who’s Mark?

Neil

No idea. But I know he’s near here! 

Well, that’s reassuring. Time for some more examples about ‘about’.

Examples

Hi, is Sue about? Just need to give her some files. 

Will you be about this evening? I want to ask a big favour. 

There’s no one about. It’s a bit scary.

Don’t talk like that. There are children about.

There we are. ‘About’ meaning in or close to an area. 单词“about”除了表达我们熟悉的“有关…”的意思之外，还可以表示“在某个地方”或者“在附近”。

Neil

You know, there’s another word that behaves like this. 

You’re talking about… ‘around’! 

Neil

Indeed. We could ask: “Is Mark around?”

And we know the answer to that: you saw him this morning.

Neil

Except… I didn’t really see him. Because Mark doesn’t exist… 

Mark

Hi – I’m Mark.

Neil

Ah, Mark! 

We were just talking about you!

Neil

And we were just talking about ‘about’.

And ‘around’.

Neil

Goodbye.

Bye.

Mark

Bye bye.