Phrasal verb ('Look about for' or 'Look for')

[Barman]

If I mean that, I am searching for a house, can I write the sentence as hereunder:

1) I am looking about for a house.

2) I am looking for a house.

 

[GoesStation]

If I [STRIKE]mean [/STRIKE]want to say that (no comma) I am searching for a house, can I write [STRIKE]the sentence as hereunder:[/STRIKE] the following?

1) I am looking about for a house.

2) I am looking for a house.

Number two is correct and natural. Number one is grammatically correct but not natural in American English.

 

[emsr2d2]

If I mean that no comma here I am searching for a house, can I write the following sentences? [STRIKE]as hereunder:[/STRIKE]

1) I am looking about for a house. Grammatically correct but not natural.

2) I am looking for a house. :tick:

See above.

 

[teechar]

Are you trying to locate a specific house, or do you mean something else?

 

[emsr2d2]

I was going to ask the same question as teechar, but I realised that "I am looking for a house" works whether you're simply searching for a house you know is around there somewhere (you're a bit lost), or if you're hoping to buy a house in the area and are searching online or looking in the window of an estate agent's.

 

[Barman]

Are you trying to locate a specific house, or do you mean something else?

No, I do not want to mention any specific house.

 

[teechar]

However, consider this scenario.
A local policeman notices a stranger driving around the local area for a while and asks him what he's doing there.
The man says:
I'm looking around/about for a house to buy/rent.

That can work.

 

[teechar]

No, I do not want to mean any specific house.

OK. Then stick with the answers provided in posts #2 and #3.

 

[emsr2d2]

However, consider this scenario.
A local policeman notices a stranger driving around the local area for a while and asks him what he's doing there.
The man says:
I'm looking around/about for a house to buy/rent.

That can work.

I'd use either "looking for" or "looking around for" in that scenario. I wouldn't use "looking about for", and that's what was suggested in post #1.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

OK. Then stick with the answers provided in posts #2 and #3.

You can also say, "I'm looking around for a house."

 

[emsr2d2]

I'm looking around/about for a house to buy/rent.

I'd use either "looking for" or "looking around for" in that scenario. I wouldn't use "looking about for", and that's what was suggested in post #1.

You can also say, "I'm looking around for a house."

As both teechar and I had already suggested. ;-)