Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
politely; respectfully; graciously
courteously
instinctively
forward
nearby
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

'forget' vs 'forget about'


Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3
 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
In spite vs inspite of | Grammatically correct? (It is the only reason I stay on here.)
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
'forget' vs 'forget about' #31 (permalink) Tue May 27, 2008 0:14 am   'forget' vs 'forget about'
 

Molly wrote:
And what's the faint nuance here?

A: Thanks for your help.

B: Forget it/Forget about it.



"Forget it" means "forget the help"; "forget about it" means "forget that which relates to the help". The former is more immediate; the latter more circumstantial.

Though as I said before, both may be possible in a particular context.

MrP
MrPedantic
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1326
Location: Southern England

'forget' vs 'forget about' #32 (permalink) Tue May 27, 2008 9:30 am   'forget' vs 'forget about'
 

Quote:
"Forget it" means "forget the help"; "forget about it" means "forget that which relates to the help".


And how do you know that?

It may be this way: "it" relates to the help itself in both cases. Or, "forget it/forget about it" means "don't even think to thank me".

Tell me, what does "it" refer to here?

A: Thanks for your help.
B: Don't mention it.

-----------

A: Thanks for your help.
B: It was nothing.

------------

A: Thanks for your help.
B: It's no big deal.
Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

What do you know about the progressive forms?English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Learn how to explore English words! Subscribe to free email English course
'forget' vs 'forget about' #33 (permalink) Tue May 27, 2008 10:59 am   'forget' vs 'forget about'
 

Molly wrote:
Quote:
1. And you can forget going to that party tonight, young man! I told you that if you didn't do your homework, I wouldn't let you go.
2. And you can forget about going to that party tonight, young man! I told you that if you didn't do your homework, I wouldn't let you go.

For me forgot doing smth. means that you did something and forgot it. (Comparing with forgot to do smth., not with forget about ) :)
_________________
I am an incurable optimist.
Inga
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 21 Apr 2008
Posts: 275
Location: Minsk, Belarus

'forget' vs 'forget about' #34 (permalink) Tue May 27, 2008 11:33 am   'forget' vs 'forget about'
 

Quote:
For me forgot doing smth. means that you did something and forgot it. (Comparing with forgot to do smth., not with forget about )


Not always, Inga.

e.g.

1. If you don't have a ticket, you can forget getting in. It's sold out.

2. Aw, it's raining. I guess we can forget going anywhere else this evening.

3. And you can forget becomng an electrician, you can't even pass tenth grade math.

The question is: is "about" ellipted in those examples?
Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

'forget' vs 'forget about' #35 (permalink) Tue May 27, 2008 11:49 am   'forget' vs 'forget about'
 

Wonderful examples! Sequence of tenses, or the flow of time is subtle, isn't it? Sometimes it doen't 100% depend on the physical stream but on how we imagine it.
Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 2471
Location: Japan

'forget' vs 'forget about' #36 (permalink) Tue May 27, 2008 18:48 pm   'forget' vs 'forget about'
 

Molly wrote:
It may be this way: "it" relates to the help itself in both cases. Or, "forget it/forget about it" mean "don't even think to thank me".


1. Thanks for your help!
2. Forget it.
3. There is no need to thank me.
4. Forget about it.
5. Forget the matter of my help.

The function of #2 in response to #1 may well be to express #3, in a particular context.

Its meaning however is "forget my help". (Which is an example of hyperbole, incidentally: we don't expect the addressee to make literal attempts to eradicate every thought of our help from his mind.)

#4 can also express #3. Its meaning is "forget the things concerning my help", i.e. (here) #5. "Forget about" therefore addresses the "help" in a slightly different way from "forget".

The difference between the two expressions increases in other contexts:

6. I forgot your mother.
— e.g. I forgot to bring your mother.

7. I forgot about your mother.
— i.e. the thing concerning your mother, e.g. I forgot that your mother was coming to stay.

MrP
MrPedantic
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1326
Location: Southern England

'forget' vs 'forget about' #37 (permalink) Tue May 27, 2008 19:11 pm   'forget' vs 'forget about'
 

Quote:
1. Thanks for your help!
2. Forget it.
3. There is no need to thank me.
4. Forget about it.
5. Forget the matter of my help.

The function of #2 in response to #1 may well be to express #3, in a particular context.


LOL! Well, you seem pretty sure of your READING, so I guess we'll leave you to it.
Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

Display posts from previous:   
In spite vs inspite of | Grammatically correct? (It is the only reason I stay on here.)
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3
Page 3 of 3
Latest topics on English Forums
What does 'try to figure out' mean?European Commission vs European CommitteeUsage of comma(, ) with 'and'Northern Europe vs North EuropeSentence express: Do you mind if i smoke?"anyone else" vs "anyone else's"What do we call the noise that crickets make?difference between I've trying to call and I've tried to callFinding mistakes problem! (Designing and implementing successful incentive...)Sentence: He was (1) alive, trembling ever so (2) slightly with delight, proud...the damp bathroom caused the toothbrushes molded...I'm hanging the clothes up on the washing pole...stock usage

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail