Phrasal verb
think about sb/sth
Definition
phrasal verb. To have someone or something in your mind. You can also use it when you are considering an idea or a possible decision.
phrasal verb. To direct one's mind towards someone or something; to engage in sustained mental consideration of a topic, person, or potential action.
Examples
“I often think about my family.”
“She is thinking about moving to a new city for a better job.”
“He spent years thinking about the philosophical implications of his discovery, unable to reconcile its beauty with its potential for destruction.”
Examples
simple
“I often think about my family.”
contextual
“She is thinking about moving to a new city for a better job.”
complex
“He spent years thinking about the philosophical implications of his discovery, unable to reconcile its beauty with its potential for destruction.”
Usage
Often followed by a noun, pronoun, or a gerund (-ing form) to specify the subject of thought.
Teaching tip
Contrast with 'think of', which often implies a more fleeting or sudden thought, whereas 'think about' suggests more sustained consideration.
Pitfall
I am thinking to move.
I am thinking about moving.
After 'think about', use a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive (to + verb).
Phrasal verb
Particles
about
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
think + about + object