Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
heart of the matter; main point
version
lawyer
sign
crux
TOEIC test: Word games: Free Online Noun Quiz Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

meaning of "know of"



 
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 Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Differences between 'with a view to' and 'in view of' | grammatical form "to except for"
Listening exercises
Message
Author
meaning of "know of" #1 (permalink) Sun Aug 03, 2008 16:56 pm   meaning of "know of"
 

Hi, please have a look at this sentence:

Not wanting anyone to know of her return, Meggie rode out to Drogheda on the mail truck with old Bluey Williams.

=> Can we omit "of" in the sentence above? and what's the difference between the two versions?
I personally think we shouldn't omit "of", but either using "of" or replacing "of" with "about" may be all right.

Thank you in advance.
Nessie.
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

"know of"? #2 (permalink) Sun Aug 03, 2008 17:07 pm   "know of"?
 

I agree that replacing it with "know about" is okay.
Barb_D
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 13 Jun 2008
Posts: 474

English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsHow many different ways with words do you know? Subscribe to free email English courseHow do you use the English Prepositions correctly?Are you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!
"know of"? #3 (permalink) Sun Aug 03, 2008 17:11 pm   "know of"?
 

Spot on, Nessie.
Pamela
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1239
Location: Rf

"know of"? #4 (permalink) Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:23 am   "know of"?
 

Thanks a lot, Barb and Pamela Smile
But could you please tell me why omitting "of" or "about" make the sentence wrong? I know it is, but I just can't explain.
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

"know of"? #5 (permalink) Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:38 am   "know of"?
 

Hi Nessie,

'Know' with a direct object indicates having firsthand knowledge of. By adding prepositions such as 'of' and 'about' you are removing the 'firsthand' element. 'Know of' suggests having information of perhaps through a secondary source. 'Know about' again indicates having information of but not in any detail.

In your sentence:Not wanting anyone to know of her return ... the meaning here is similar to 'hearing/learning about'. Similarly 'know about' can be used here. But you can't really 'know her return' because the word 'return' is too vague here to be a direct object of 'know' You would have to create a dependent sentence as: 'know that she had returned/was returning'.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story A day in the life of a policeman
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 9205
Location: UK

"know of"? #6 (permalink) Tue Aug 05, 2008 16:10 pm   "know of"?
 

Thank you so much for your very clear explanation, Alan SmileSmileSmile
Nessie.
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

Display posts from previous:   
Differences between 'with a view to' and 'in view of' | grammatical form "to except for"
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms meaning of "know of" All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
Plural of Versusarticle for 'credit crisis'Usage of whichever, however, no matter how, whateverdifference between burglerer and thiefI need to practice the present perfect tense, How could you help me?Argument about the word dwindleOne vs He; He or She or Weturn dreams into "reality" or "realities"?"many" vs "much more"all vs all ofWhat meant Stephen King in his Christine under the word "five-ten"?Usage of turn of event, turning event, turning of eventUsage of "tenacious"Heavily populated vs Highly populatedA common error: I or meWhat is the difference between include, involve, consist and contain?Proveb: People who live in glasshouses shouldn't throw stoneMeaning of "stay-laces"meaning of "know of"

 
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