grammar

[longhiryu]

Can I say: "What are you thinking about?" (if that sentence is right , is it British or American English grammar?)

 

[engee30]

Can I say: "What are you thinking about?" (if that sentence is right , is it British or American English grammar?)

You don't need about in your sentence. The sentence is all right as long as you're taking about someone creating ideas in their mind. If you want to ask about someone's opinion, then the sentence is not right, and should be rewritten as What do you think?

 

[Snowcake]

There is a difference between think about and think of, that might be interesting for you.


'think of' means 'imagine' something whereas 'think about' tends to mean something closer to 'consider'.

Regards,
Snowcake

 

[Anglika]

Yes, you can say this.

"What are you thinking about?"
"Oh nothing, just how pretty that girl is."

 

[banderas]

There is a difference between think about and think of, that might be interesting for you.


'think of' means 'imagine' something whereas 'think about' tends to mean something closer to 'consider'.

Regards,
Snowcake

can you chalange this?
I am thinking of you.
I am thinking about you.;-)

 

[Snowcake]

No.

I know that there is no difference in this case. ;-) However, in some cases there is a difference between of and about.

Read this:

Hi Cecile and thanks for your question - prepositions are a very tricky area! This is also what's known as a collocation issue...which means we need to look at which words work best in partnership with 'think of ' and 'think about.'. Basically, 'think of' usually means 'imagine' whereas 'think about' tends to mean something closer to 'consider', so the differences would arise in certain contexts. For example, if I say I'm thinking of a tropical beach, please don't interrupt me! I mean I'm imagining it or daydreaming about it. However, a sentence like 'they're thinking about whether to agree to the sale,' means they're considering the sale. In these cases, it's just natural usage patterns that tend to favour one form over another

But when we are talking about people, we often tend to use them both in a similar way: For example, if my friend had an accident and went to hospital, I might send a card and some flowers with a message which could either read: 'I'm thinking of you,' or 'I'm thinking about you', and the meaning wouldn't be significantly different.


Snowcake

 

[banderas]

But when we are talking about people, we often tend to use them both in a similar way: For example, if my friend had an accident and went to hospital, I might send a card and some flowers with a message which could either read: 'I'm thinking of you,' or 'I'm thinking about you', and the meaning wouldn't be significantly different.


Snowcake

It makes sense. I wonder what our natives think of (not about) this theory?

 

[engee30]

There's even a better way to show the difference between the two (Snowcake provided us with very good examples indeed):

(a meeting in a company facing bankrupting):

As the directing manager, I promise that I shall give a hundred thousand pounds to the person that can think of (= invent/make up) an idea how to get out of the situation we have found ourselves, an idea that we can all think about (= consider).

 

[Snowcake]

Thank you, Engee. :-D I do appreciate you being 'round. (sorry, I couldn't resist. I've just listened to The Beatles)

Thanks for providing us with this clear example!

Snowcake

 

[engee30]

Thank you, Engee. :-D I do appreciate you being 'round. (sorry, I couldn't resist. I've just listened to The Beatles)

Thanks for providing us with this clear example!

Snowcake

You're 'willkommen'! :-D

 

[banderas]

You're 'willkommen'! :-D

this is called a loan translation unless you said it in jest;-)

 

[Snowcake]

this is called a loan translation unless you said it in jest;-)

Yes, but it's cute and very nice. :-D

Now I've always have to think of Engee when listening to "Help". :smilecol:

Thanks, Engee. You made my day.

Regards,
Snowcake