Difference between "know someone" and "know about someone"

Question

(1) How did you get to know John?(2) How do you know John?(3) How do you know about John?I am very confused about the three questions above. Could you please explain the difference in meaning? Thank you very much. I really appreciate your time and help.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

ansonguy(1) How did you get to know John?

This asks how you became acquainted with John. Answers would be of the form

I got to know him through our mutual interest in sports.
I got to know him because we were both in the same chemistry class.  We started talking and found that we had a few friends in common.
I got to know him by asking him for his help on a project we had at work.

ansonguy(2) How do you know John?

This asks essentially how and/or when you met him. Answers would be

I met him at a company party.
I met him through a mutual friend about a year ago.
Our kids go to the same school, so I met him at a parents' meeting.
My friend Sally introduced us when we happened to run into him at the supermarket.

ansonguy(3) How do you know about John?

In this case you don't necessarily even know John personally. You might just know him by things you've heard about him. This asks how you came to know something about John or something that John did. Answers might be

I read about him in the newspaper.
My wife told me about the trouble he's in.
That news about the award he got was on the radio last week.

CJ

Difference between "know someone" and "know about someone"

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