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。请看以下对话
Neil
And I’m Neil.
Feifei
In this programme, we’re talking about… ‘about’!
Neil
About ‘about’?
Feifei
About ‘about’!
Neil
This is getting silly! We are indeed talking about the word ‘about’ – but not as it’s usually used.
Feifei
是的，我们来给大家举例说明。Is Mark about today?
Neil
Yes, I saw him this morning.
Feifei
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’.
Feifei
“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!
Feifei
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.
Feifei
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.
Feifei
You’re talking about… ‘around’!
Neil
Indeed. We could ask: “Is Mark around?”
Feifei
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!
Feifei
We were just talking about you!
Neil
And we were just talking about ‘about’.
Feifei
And ‘around’.
Neil
Goodbye.
Feifei
Bye.
Mark
Bye bye.
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