Pattern: verb + toward + noun The money goes towards helping the family. This could also be: The money went towards helping the family. The money will go towards helping the family. The money is going to go towards helping the family. When a word cannot be substituted, that word is included in the pattern. Example: Pattern: be + after + noun The reception is after the wedding. be is the only possible verb for this pattern. When a word is optional, it is in parentheses. Example: Pattern: be + outside (of) + noun The dog is outside the house. The dog is outside of the house. When the word noun is in the pattern, use the normal patterns for noun usage, as outlined in Part Three. Example: Pattern: verb + against + noun Dr. Jones is against the idea. This could also be: He is against my idea. He is against this idea. He is against our ideas. He is against some of their ideas. When the noun determiner cannot be substituted, it is included in the pattern. Example: Pattern: verb + against + the + noun We sailed against the wind for an hour. (the cannot be replaced by a, this, my, or any other word) About 1 About identifies a topic. Pattern 1: noun + be + about + noun This book is about prepositions. Nouns commonly used before about: argument, article, book, conversation, disagreement, discussion, joke, lecture, movie, news, play, program, report, speech, story Pattern 2: noun + about + noun She gave me advice about my loan. Nouns commonly used before about: assurance, complaint, comment, gossip, lie, question, statement, truth Pattern 3: verb + about + noun He often talks about his job. Verbs commonly used before about: agree, argue, brag, care, complain, cry, do, dream, forget, groan, hear, joke, know, laugh, lie, moan, pray, read, say, scream, sing, talk, think, wonder, worry, yell Expressions: to see about— 1. to delay a decision until more information is known We want to buy a house, but we will see about that later. 2. to get information about I called that office to see about getting a job there. to find out about—to get information about She called the school to find out about her daughter's behavior. Pattern 4: verb + noun + about She knows something about airplanes. Typical verbs used with this pattern: ask, find out, know, learn, say Typical nouns used before about: a little, a lot, quite a bit, nothing, something, very little Pattern 5: verb + indirect object + about + noun They asked me about my trip. Verbs commonly used with this pattern: advise, ask, bother, contact, harass, question, remind, teach, tell, write Pattern 6: adjective + about + noun They were very kind about our late arrival. Adjectives commonly used before about: charming, kind, nasty, nice, mean, rude, sweet, understanding, unkind 2 About can identify the cause of an emotion or condition. pattern: adjective + about + noun We are excited about our vacation.