The preposition “around” is a versatile word in the English language, serving various functions from indicating location and direction to expressing approximation and distribution. Understanding its multifaceted usage is crucial for both native speakers and English language learners aiming to improve their fluency and accuracy.
This comprehensive guide delves deep into the different contexts in which “around” is used, providing numerous examples, practical rules, and helpful exercises to solidify your understanding. This article is designed for English language learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced students, as well as teachers looking for a detailed resource on this essential preposition.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of “Around”
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories of “Around”
- Examples of “Around” in Sentences
- Usage Rules for “Around”
- Common Mistakes with “Around”
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Conclusion
Definition of “Around”
“Around” is primarily a preposition, though it can also function as an adverb. As a preposition, it connects a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition) to another word in the sentence, typically indicating location, direction, time, manner, or approximation.
The core meaning of “around” involves being situated in a circular or encompassing manner, or in proximity to something. Its flexibility allows it to convey a range of nuances, making it an indispensable part of the English vocabulary.
The word “around” can also be considered a circumposition when it is used with another preposition like “from” or “to” (e.g., “from around the corner”). A circumposition is when a preposition is split into two parts and surrounds the noun phrase.
Structural Breakdown
The basic structure involving “around” is quite straightforward: Subject + Verb + Around + Noun/Pronoun. The noun or pronoun following “around” acts as the object of the preposition. This structure can be modified and expanded to create more complex sentences, but the fundamental relationship between “around” and its object remains constant. For instance, adjectives can be added to the noun phrase to provide more detail, or adverbs can modify the verb to specify the manner of the action.
Understanding the word order is key. The preposition “around” typically precedes the noun or pronoun it governs.
The entire phrase “around + noun/pronoun” then functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying another element in the sentence, such as the verb or another noun.
Types and Categories of “Around”
The preposition “around” can be categorized based on the specific meaning it conveys in a sentence. Here are some primary categories:
Around Indicating Location
In this context, “around” signifies being situated in a circular area, surrounding something, or being in the vicinity of a place. It suggests a general area rather than a precise point.
Around Indicating Direction
Here, “around” indicates movement along a curved or circuitous path, often implying avoidance of a direct route or encircling something.
Around Indicating Time
“Around” is used to approximate a time, suggesting “approximately” or “about” a certain hour or period. It implies a degree of imprecision.
Around Indicating Manner or State
In this less common usage, “around” can describe the state or manner in which something is done or exists, often implying a lack of organization or precision.
Around Indicating Distribution
Here, “around” signifies spreading or distributing something to various locations or among different people.
Around Indicating Approximation
Similar to its use with time, “around” can also approximate quantities or measurements, indicating “approximately” or “in the region of.”
Examples of “Around” in Sentences
To illustrate the various uses of “around,” here are several examples categorized by the function of “around” in each sentence.
Location Examples
The following table illustrates the usage of “around” to indicate location. Notice how “around” suggests a general area or vicinity.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| The children were playing around the park. | Indicates the children were playing in the general area of the park. |
| There are many shops around the station. | Indicates that shops are located in the vicinity of the station. |
| I’m looking for a house around here. | Indicates the speaker is searching for a house in this general area. |
| She wrapped a scarf around her neck. | Indicates the scarf encircled her neck. |
| The cat curled up around my feet. | The cat positioned itself encircling the speaker’s feet. |
| They built a fence around the garden. | The fence surrounds the garden. |
| We walked around the lake. | We walked in a path encircling the lake. |
| There’s a lot of construction going on around the city center. | Construction is occurring in various locations near the city center. |
| He scattered toys around the room. | The toys were distributed across the room. |
| The guard patrolled around the perimeter. | The guard walked along the boundary. |
| I felt a strange energy around the old house. | A sensation was felt within the vicinity of the house. |
| Birds were flying around the trees. | Birds were in the general area of the trees. |
| The planets revolve around the sun. | Planets orbit the sun. |
| There’s a nice cafe around the corner. | The cafe is near the corner. |
| We sat around the campfire. | We sat in a circle near the campfire. |
| The crowd gathered around the speaker. | The crowd formed a circle around the speaker. |
| I could hear noises around the house at night. | Noises were audible in the vicinity of the house. |
| She has family living around the country. | Her family is spread across the country. |
| The dog loves to run around the yard. | The dog enjoys running in the yard. |
| There’s a strange smell around here. | A peculiar odor is present in this area. |
| The security cameras are placed around the building. | The cameras are positioned to monitor the building’s surroundings. |
| He put his arm around her shoulder. | He embraced her by encircling her shoulder with his arm. |
| Mosquitoes were buzzing around the light. | Mosquitoes were flying in circles near the light. |
| They planted flowers around the edge of the garden. | Flowers were planted along the border of the garden. |
Direction Examples
This table demonstrates how “around” is used to indicate movement along a curved or indirect path.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| We drove around the city to avoid the traffic. | Indicates a detour was taken to bypass traffic within the city. |
| The river winds around the mountains. | Indicates the river follows a curved path around the mountains. |
| He turned around and walked away. | Indicates he changed direction completely. |
| The Earth rotates around the sun. | Describes the Earth’s orbital path. |
| She steered the boat around the rocks. | She navigated the boat to avoid hitting the rocks. |
| The road curves around the hill. | The road follows a winding path around the hill. |
| Let’s go around the block. | Let’s walk around the perimeter of the block. |
| The dancer spun around gracefully. | The dancer rotated in a graceful manner. |
| The rumor spread around the office. | The rumor circulated throughout the office. |
| The news got around quickly. | The news spread rapidly. |
| He peeked around the corner. | He looked from behind the corner. |
| The dog ran around in circles. | The dog moved in a circular path. |
| She wrapped the bandage around his arm. | The bandage was wound around his arm. |
| The train went around the bend. | The train followed the curve in the track. |
| We sailed around the island. | We circumnavigated the island. |
| The thief tried to sneak around the back of the house. | The thief attempted to move undetected behind the house. |
| The children chased each other around the table. | The children ran in circles around the table. |
| The story goes around that he’s leaving. | The rumor is circulating that he is departing. |
| He led me around the building to the entrance. | He guided me along a route to reach the building’s entrance. |
| The Earth’s magnetic field wraps around the planet. | The magnetic field surrounds the planet. |
| The vine climbed around the trellis. | The vine grew upwards, encircling the trellis. |
| She tied a ribbon around the present. | She secured the present with a ribbon wrapped around it. |
| The gossip went around the small town like wildfire. | The gossip spread rapidly throughout the town. |
| The moon orbits around the Earth. | The moon’s path is in orbit around the Earth. |
Time Examples
This table illustrates the use of “around” to approximate a time.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| I’ll be home around 6 PM. | Indicates arrival will be approximately at 6 PM. |
| The meeting will start around noon. | Indicates the meeting will begin near midday. |
| She usually wakes up around 7 AM. | Her typical wake-up time is approximately 7 AM. |
| The package should arrive around Tuesday. | The package is expected to be delivered approximately on Tuesday. |
| We’ll have dinner around eight. | Dinner will be served approximately at 8 o’clock. |
| The movie starts around 9:30. | The movie is scheduled to begin close to 9:30. |
| I expect to finish the project around next month. | The project should be completed sometime next month. |
| They got married around 2010. | Their wedding occurred approximately in the year 2010. |
| He was born around the time of the festival. | His birth was near the festival period. |
| The store closes around 10 PM. | The store’s closing time is approximately 10 PM. |
| I’ll call you back around lunchtime. | I will return your call near lunchtime. |
| The event starts around sunset. | The event is scheduled to begin near sunset. |
| She’ll be here around an hour. | She is expected to arrive in approximately one hour. |
| The rain started around midnight. | The rain began close to midnight. |
| I usually go to bed around 11 PM. | My typical bedtime is approximately 11 PM. |
| The concert should end around 10:30 PM. | The concert is anticipated to finish near 10:30 PM. |
| We’ll be there around the same time. | We will arrive at approximately the same time. |
| He started working here around five years ago. | He began his employment approximately five years prior. |
| The leaves start to change color around October. | The leaves begin to alter their hue near October. |
| I expect to hear back from them around next week. | I anticipate receiving a response sometime next week. |
Manner Examples
This table shows “around” describing a manner or state.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| He’s always fooling around. | Indicates he spends his time playfully or aimlessly. |
| They were just hanging around. | Indicates they were spending time idly. |
| Stop messing around and get to work. | Indicates to cease unproductive or playful behavior. |
| She likes to laze around on weekends. | She enjoys relaxing idly during weekends. |
| He’s been moping around since the breakup. | He has been acting depressed since the breakup. |
| Don’t leave your clothes lying around. | Do not leave your clothes scattered about. |
| The children were running around wild. | The children were behaving in an uncontrolled manner. |
| He’s been tinkering around with the engine. | He has been experimenting with the engine. |
| They were sitting around doing nothing. | They were spending time idly. |
| She spends her days wandering around. | She occupies her time by aimlessly walking. |
| He’s been pushing around lately. | He has been acting aggressively lately. |
| Stop acting around and get serious. | Stop being frivolous and become serious. |
| She was dancing around happily. | She was dancing in a happy and carefree manner. |
| He’s always joking around. | He is frequently making jokes. |
| They were just chatting around. | They were engaging in casual conversation. |
| He’s been sniffing around, trying to find information. | He has been discreetly seeking information. |
| They were just milling around waiting for the bus. | They were idly waiting for the bus. |
| She’s been fluttering around, trying to impress him. | She has been trying to impress him. |
| He’s been loafing around all day. | He has been idling all day. |
| They were just lounging around by the pool. | They were relaxing by the pool. |
Distribution Examples
This table demonstrates how “around” is used to indicate distribution.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| They passed the hats around. | Indicates the hats were distributed to everyone in the group. |
| She handed the cookies around. | Indicates the cookies were given to everyone present. |
| He spread the news around. | Indicates the news was disseminated to various people. |
| They circulated the petition around. | The petition was passed amongst people to sign. |
| She scattered the seeds around the garden. | The seeds were spread throughout the garden. |
| He distributed flyers around the neighborhood. | Flyers were delivered to various locations in the neighborhood. |
| They shared the food around. | The food was divided among everyone. |
| She dealt the cards around the table. | The cards were given to each player at the table. |
| He passed the blame around. | The responsibility was shifted to others. |
| They divided the tasks around. | The tasks were distributed among the team members. |
| She sprinkled salt around the dish. | Salt was scattered over the dish. |
| He spread the fertilizer around the lawn. | Fertilizer was distributed across the lawn. |
| They handed out the brochures around the conference. | Brochures were given to attendees at the conference. |
| She passed the collection plate around. | The collection plate was circulated among the congregation. |
| He scattered the confetti around the room. | Confetti was spread throughout the room. |
| They distributed the awards around the team. | Awards were given to various members of the team. |
| She spread the jam around the toast. | Jam was spread evenly over the toast. |
| He distributed the profits around the shareholders. | Profits were divided among the shareholders. |
| They passed the microphone around the audience. | The microphone was given to different members of the audience. |
| She scattered the flower petals around the aisle. | Flower petals were spread along the aisle. |
Approximation Examples
This table exemplifies “around” used to approximate quantities or measurements.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| It costs around $20. | Indicates the price is approximately $20. |
| There were around 50 people at the party. | Indicates the number of attendees was approximately 50. |
| The building is around 100 years old. | Indicates the building’s age is approximately 100 years. |
| The distance is around 10 miles. | Indicates the approximate distance is 10 miles. |
| He weighs around 150 pounds. | His approximate weight is 150 pounds. |
| She earned around $500 this week. | Her approximate earnings for the week are $500. |
| The population is around 1 million. | The approximate population is 1 million. |
| The temperature is around 25 degrees Celsius. | The approximate temperature is 25 degrees Celsius. |
| The project will take around three months. | The approximate duration of the project is three months. |
| He has around 20 books. | He possesses approximately 20 books. |
| She needs around 10 more votes. | She requires approximately 10 additional votes. |
| The recipe calls for around a cup of flour. | The recipe requires approximately one cup of flour. |
| He has around 30 employees. | He employs approximately 30 individuals. |
| The car gets around 30 miles per gallon. | The car achieves approximately 30 miles per gallon. |
| The company made around $10 million in profit. | The company’s approximate profit was $10 million. |
| The apartment is around 800 square feet. | The approximate size of the apartment is 800 square feet. |
| She spent around two hours on the phone. | She spent approximately two hours on the phone. |
| He has around half a dozen cats. | He owns approximately six cats. |
| The project is around 75% complete. | The project is approximately 75% finished. |
| She saved around $1000 for her vacation. | She saved approximately $1000 for her holiday. |
Usage Rules for “Around”
While “around” is generally straightforward, there are a few usage rules to keep in mind:
- “Around” vs. “Round”: In American English, “around” is the more common form. “Round” is used less frequently but can be interchangeable in some contexts, especially when indicating a circular shape or movement. In British English, “round” is more common than in American English.
- “Around” with Verbs: Certain verbs commonly pair with “around” to create phrasal verbs (e.g., “mess around,” “look around,” “fool around”). The meaning of these phrasal verbs is often idiomatic and can’t be directly inferred from the individual words.
- Placement: “Around” typically precedes the noun or pronoun it governs. However, in some informal constructions, it might appear at the end of a clause, especially in questions (e.g., “What are you looking around for?”).
Common Mistakes with “Around”
Here are some common errors people make when using “around,” along with corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I will see you at around 5. | I will see you around 5. | The “at” is redundant when used with “around” to indicate approximate time. |
| He walked round the park. (American English) | He walked around the park. | “Around” is more common in American English. “Round” is acceptable but less frequent. |
| She put a fence surround the house. | She put a fence around the house. | “Surround” is a verb, while “around” is the correct preposition here. |
| They are playing surround the pool. | They are playing around the pool. | “Surround” is a verb, while “around” is the correct preposition here. |
| He will be here at around one hour. | He will be here in around one hour. | The correct preposition to use with a duration of time is “in”. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of “around” with these exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct use of “around”.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| The Earth revolves ______ the sun. | around |
| I’ll be there ______ 3 PM. | around |
| They were sitting ______ the table. | around |
| She wrapped a scarf ______ her neck. | around |
| He drove ______ the city to avoid traffic. | around |
| The cost is ______ $10. | around |
| The children were playing ______ the garden. | around |
| He looked ______ the corner cautiously. | around |
| The news spread quickly ______ the office. | around |
| I’m looking for a good restaurant ______ here. | around |
Exercise 2: Correct the Sentence
Correct the sentences that use “around” incorrectly.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| I will meet you at around noon. | I will meet you around noon. |
| She walked round the block. | She walked around the block. (In American English) |
| They are playing surround the park. | They are playing around the park. |
| The price is exactly around $50. | The price is around $50. |
| He is always fool round. | He is always fooling around. |
| The cat curled up round my feet. | The cat curled up around my feet. (In American English) |
| There were near around 100 people. | There were around 100 people. |
| She put her arms surround him. | She put her arms around him. |
| They drove surround the lake. | They drove around the lake. |
| He’s been moping round since the accident. | He’s been moping around since the accident. (In American English) |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, consider these more nuanced aspects of “around”:
- “Around” in Figurative Language: Explore how “around” is used in idioms and metaphors to convey abstract concepts (e.g., “beat around the bush,” “turn the world around”).
- Regional Variations: Investigate the differences in usage between American and British English, particularly regarding the interchangeability of “around” and “round.”
- “Around” as Part of Complex Prepositional Phrases: Analyze sentences where “around” combines with other prepositions to create more complex expressions (e.g., “from around,” “all around”).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some common questions about using “around”:
- Is “around” interchangeable with “round”?
In some cases, yes, particularly when indicating a circular shape or movement. However, “around” is generally more common in American English, while “round” is more prevalent in British English. It’s best to be aware of the regional preferences.
- Can “around” be used with other prepositions?
Yes, “around” can be combined with other prepositions to form complex prepositional phrases, such as “from around the corner” or “all around the world.” These phrases often have specific meanings that should be understood in context.
- What’s the difference between “around” and “about” when approximating time?
Both “around” and “about” can be used to approximate time, and they are often interchangeable. However, “around” might suggest a slightly wider margin of error than “about.” For example, “around 6 PM” could mean anywhere from 5:45 PM to 6:15 PM, while “about 6 PM” might imply a closer approximation.
- How do I know when “around” is being used as a preposition vs. an adverb?
If “around” is followed by a noun or pronoun (its object), it’s functioning as a preposition (e.g., “around the house”). If it’s modifying a verb or adjective without a following noun or pronoun, it’s functioning as an adverb (e.g., “He turned around”).
- What are some common phrasal verbs that use “around”?
Some common phrasal verbs with “around” include “mess around” (to play or be unproductive), “look around” (to explore), “fool around” (to behave playfully), “hang around” (to spend time idly), and “get around” (to travel or circulate). The meanings of these phrasal verbs can be idiomatic and require specific knowledge.
- Is it correct to say “at around” a certain time?
No, it is incorrect to say “at around”. The word “at” is redundant when used with “around” to indicate approximate time. The correct usage is simply “around” a certain time.
- Can “around” be used to describe feelings or emotions?
While not a primary usage, “around” can indirectly relate to feelings or emotions by describing the environment or context in which those feelings arise. For example, “There’s a strange feeling around this place” suggests the environment evokes a particular emotion.
- What is the origin of the word “around”?
The word “around” comes from the Middle English word “arounde,” which is derived from “on round.” It has Germanic origins, related
to Old English “on ymb,” meaning “on about.”
Conclusion
The preposition “around” is a highly versatile word with a range of meanings and applications. From indicating location and direction to approximating time and quantity, “around” plays a crucial role in the English language.
By understanding its various uses and nuances, you can significantly improve your communication skills and avoid common mistakes. Keep practicing with the examples and exercises provided in this guide, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of using “around” effectively.