"know" vs "know about"

Question

There are some verbs which can be either transitive or intransitive. E.g.

#1 I know him.
#2 I know about him.

Other examples include forget and learn.
Very often, I find the usage very confusing. Is there any rule governing when a preposition should be added? I understand the answer is most likely no, but I would appreciate any suggestion of making it easier to distinguish the two usages.

Thanks.

Ricky

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

#1 I know him. I know him personally, I've met him.
#2 I know about him. I heard about him.

CalifJim · Answer

know and learn work the same way.

If you know (or learn) something, you know (or learn) that thing directly and thoroughly.

Professor Johnson knows algebra.
(He is thoroughly versed in algebra. He is an expert in algebra. He knows how to do algebra.)
Susan learned first aid in a special evening class.
(She learned a great deal about first aid. You can trust her to know what to do in an emergency that requires first aid.)
---------------

If you know (or learn) about something, you know (or learn) something related to it in a superficial way.

Janet knows about algebra. (She can tell you that algebra is a branch of mathematics, but does not necessarily know how to do much algebra.)
The students learned about first aid in health class. (They learned that first aid is a set of procedures that should be done immediately if someone is injured. They learned some facts related to first aid, but they were not necessarily trained to do it themselves.)

In these usages you can add an indefinite direct object.
Janet knows a little about algebra.
The students learned a lot about first aid in health class.
_______

forget works a little differently.

I forgot the donuts. (I didn't bring the donuts I was supposed to bring. I left them behind.)
I forgot about the donuts. (I forgot something related to the donuts. Maybe I forgot that I had them, and I had intended to eat them.)
____

There are other uses, but at least this gives you a few ideas to start thinking about.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Hi there

1. Knowing someting is that you
know it generally and commonly.
2. "Know about someting" means
You know about it in detail.
3. What you know of someting is that
You know of it indirectly.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi There ,

If you don't know what you're talking about , DON'T talk.

Jeff

"know" vs "know about"

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