Discuss the plan, not “discuss about the plan”

The rule

Some verbs take their object directly, with no preposition: discuss something, enter a room, marry someone, call someone. Say We discussed the price, not We discussed about the price.

Arabic says ناقش حول and دخل إلى, and French says discuter de, so learners add about or to. These English verbs don't need one.

Examples

In a conversation

A: Can we discuss the schedule today?

B: Sure. Call me after lunch.

A: Great. We can also talk about the new client.

Practice

Choose the best answer. The answers are at the end of the lesson.

1. We need to ___ the budget.
   • a) discuss about
   • b) discuss
   • c) discuss on
2. The teacher ___ the classroom at 8.
   • a) entered
   • b) entered to
   • c) entered in
3. Let's ___ the trip tonight.
   • a) talk
   • b) talk about
   • c) discuss about

Tip

Talk about and think about do take about. Not sure? Say talk about: We talked about the price.

Answers

1. b) discuss. Discuss takes its object directly.
2. a) entered. Enter takes no preposition.
3. b) talk about. Talk needs about; discuss doesn't.

• ← Day 2: He goes, not “he go”: the -s in the present simple
• All 60 lessons
• Day 4: I'm a student: don't forget “a” and “an” →