Verb + preposition (about/of)
dream ABOUT ... (when you are asleep)
(l) wouldn't dream OF doing something = l would never do it
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hear ABOUT ... = be told about something
- D Did you hear about what happened at the club on Saturday night?
hear OF ... = know that somebody/something exists
- D 'Who is Tom Hart?' 'l have no idea. I've never heard of him'. (not heard from him)
hear FROM... = receive a letter, phone cali or message from somebody
- D 'Have you heard from Jane recently?' 'Yes, she phoned a few days ago.'
think ABOUT ... and think OF ...
When you think ABOUT some thing, you consider it, you concentrate your mind on it:
- D I've thought about what you said and I've decided to take your advice.
- D 'Will you lend me the money?' '1'11 think about it.'
When you think OF something, the idea comes to your mind:
- D He told me his name, but I can't think of it now. (not think about it)
- D Thaťs a good idea. Why didn't I think of that? (not think about that)
We also use think of when we ask or give an opinion:
- D 'What did you think of the film?' 'l 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:
- D When I'm alone, I of ten think of (or about) you.
You can say think of or think about doing something (for possible future actions):
- D My sister is thinking of (or about) going to Canada. (= she is considering it)
remind some body ABOUT ... = tell somebody not to forget
- D I'm glad you reminded me about the meeting. I'd completely forgotten about it.
remind some body OF ... = cause somebody to remember
- D This house reminds me of the one Ilived in when I was a child.
- D Look at this photograph of Richard. Who does he remind you of?
complain (TO somebody) ABOUT... = say that you are not satisfied
- D 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.
- D We called the doctor because George was complaining of a pain in his stomach.
warn somebody ABOUT a person or thing which is bad, dangerous, unusual etc.
- D I knew he was a strange person. I had been warned about him. (not warned of him)
- D Vicky warned me about the traffic. She said it would be bad.
warn somebody ABOUT/OF a danger, some thing bad which might happen later
- D Scientists have warned us about/of the effects of global warming.