Understanding the Phrasal Verb "Bring About": Meaning and Usage in English
Learning phrasal verbs is a key step in mastering English fluency, and understanding how to use "bring about" correctly can significantly enhance your communication. This versatile phrasal verb, "bring about", often relates to causing something to happen or initiating change, a common theme in discussions about progress or consequences. If you're keen on expanding your English vocabulary and understanding phrasal verb definitions, this post is for you. We'll explore the various meanings of "bring about", examine its grammatical structures, look at related phrases and synonyms, and offer practice exercises to solidify your understanding. Get ready to confidently "bring about" improvements in your English skills!
Table of Contents
- What Does "Bring About" Mean?
- Structure with "Bring About"
- Related Phrases and Synonyms
- Practice Time!
- Conclusion
What Does "Bring About" Mean?
The phrasal verb "bring about" fundamentally means to cause something to happen, to make something occur, or to effect a change. It signifies a process or an action, or even a person or event, that leads to a specific, often significant, result or outcome. Understanding how to use "bring about" is crucial for articulating causality and discussing consequences or developments in English.
When you use "bring about", you're typically highlighting the causal link between an action or situation and its subsequent result. The changes or outcomes described can be positive, such as reforms that bring about improvements, or negative, like policies that bring about economic hardship. For example, technological advancements can bring about new industries, while poor planning can bring about project failure. It's a versatile phrase suitable for both formal and semi-formal contexts, often appearing in news reports, academic discussions, and business communications when analyzing causes and effects. For learners of English, especially those tackling ESL phrasal verbs, grasping the nuances of "bring about" is an important step in developing more sophisticated expression.
More: Understanding the Phrasal Verb: Breeze Through Your English Learning
Structure with "Bring About"
The phrasal verb "bring about" is transitive, which means it always requires an object โ the thing, event, or change that is caused or made to happen. While technically separable (e.g., "bring changes about"), it is most commonly used with the particle "about" directly following the verb "bring" (i.e., "bring about changes"). This cohesive structure helps maintain clarity and is the preferred usage in most contexts. Let's delve into its common structures and some finer points of its application.
Meaning 1: To Cause Something to Happen / To Effect a Change
This is the primary and most widespread meaning of "bring about". It emphasizes that an action, decision, event, or even a person is the direct instigator or cause of a particular result, transformation, or new situation. The focus is on the causal relationship.
Structure 1: Subject + bring about + Object (the result/change)
- This active voice construction clearly identifies the agent (subject) responsible for causing the outcome (object).
- Example 1: The new government policies aim to bring about social reform. (Subject: The new government policies; Object: social reform)
- Example 2: The relentless efforts of the activists eventually brought about the desired legislation. (Subject: The relentless efforts of the activists; Object: the desired legislation)
Structure 2: Object (the result/change) + is/was brought about + by + Agent (optional)
- This passive voice construction is useful when the result or change itself is the main focus, or when the agent causing it is unknown, less important, or generally understood.
- Example 1: Significant advancements in technology were brought about by sustained investment in research. (Object: Significant advancements in technology; Agent: sustained investment in research)
- Example 2: The crisis was brought about by a series of unfortunate miscalculations. (Object: The crisis; Agent: a series of unfortunate miscalculations)
Meaning 2: To Accomplish or Achieve Something (often a specific, significant outcome)
This usage is very close to the first meaning but carries a subtle nuance of successfully realizing or achieving a specific, often challenging or desired, outcome. It implies a sense of completion or fulfillment of a goal, usually as a result of effort, planning, or a process.
- Structure: Subject + bring about + Object (the desired outcome/achievement)
- Example 1: Through careful negotiation, the team managed to bring about a consensus among all stakeholders. (Subject: the team; Object: a consensus)
- Example 2: It took years of dedicated work for the community to bring about the restoration of the historic landmark. (Subject: the community; Object: the restoration of the historic landmark)
Important Considerations When Using "Bring About"
- Significance of Change: "Bring about" is generally used for changes or results that are noteworthy or have considerable impact. It's less common for trivial or minor occurrences. You might bring about peace or a revolution, but you wouldn't typically say you bring about a cup of tea (you'd 'make' or 'get' it).
- Formality: While not strictly formal, "bring about" lends a slightly more formal or serious tone than some simpler verbs like 'cause' or 'make happen', especially in written English.
- Neutral, Positive, or Negative: The outcome brought about can be positive (e.g., bring about recovery), negative (e.g., bring about a downfall), or neutral, depending entirely on the context and the object of the verb.
Common Collocations with "Bring About"
Understanding common collocations (words that frequently appear together) can help you use "bring about" more naturally:
- Bring about change(s): This is perhaps the most frequent collocation.
- Example: Technology continues to bring about change in our daily lives.
- Bring about reform: Often used in political or social contexts.
- Example: The new legislation aims to bring about reform in the education system.
- Bring about a solution/resolution: Highlighting the achievement of a positive outcome to a problem.
- Example: We hope these discussions will bring about a solution to the dispute.
- Bring about an end (to something): Signifying cessation.
- Example: The treaty brought about an end to the long war.
- Bring about improvements/developments: Focusing on positive progress.
- Example: The investment in infrastructure has brought about improvements in transportation.
- Bring about a crisis/disaster/downfall: Indicating negative consequences.
- Example: His reckless decisions ultimately brought about his downfall.
By familiarizing yourself with these structures and collocations, you can use "bring about" with greater accuracy and sophistication, truly enhancing your ability to describe cause and effect in English.
More: Understanding 'Break Up': Meanings and Usage of the Phrasal Verb
Related Phrases and Synonyms
While "bring about" is a very useful phrasal verb, English offers a rich variety of words and phrases to express similar meanings. Exploring synonyms can help you diversify your vocabulary and choose the word with the precise shade of meaning you intend. Below are some common synonyms for "bring about", particularly in its core sense of causing something to happen, along with their nuances and example sentences.
| Synonym | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | To make something happen, often something direct and can be neutral, positive or negative. It's a very general term. | The earthquake caused widespread destruction. |
| Effect | (verb) To achieve a result; to make something happen. This is more formal than 'cause' and often implies a deliberate action to achieve a specific change. | The new manager aims to effect significant improvements in efficiency. |
| Induce | To lead or move by persuasion or influence, as to some action or state of mind; to bring about, produce, or cause a particular (often physiological or mental) state. | The doctor explained that the medication might induce sleepiness. |
| Generate | To produce or create something, such as energy, income, ideas, or results. Often implies creation or origination. | The marketing campaign is expected to generate a lot of interest. |
| Provoke | To stir up, arouse, or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity); to incite to anger or resentment. Often implies a strong, sometimes negative, reaction. | His insensitive comments provoked an angry response from the audience. |
Understanding these synonyms and their subtle differences will allow you to express the concept of causation with greater precision. While "bring about" often refers to more significant or complex processes leading to change, words like "cause" can be more general, and "effect" more formal and deliberate.
More: Break off: Understanding the Phrasal Verb's Meanings & Usage
Practice Time!
Now that you've learned about the meaning, structure, and synonyms of "bring about", let's test your understanding with a few multiple-choice questions. Choose the best option for each sentence.
Question 1: Which sentence uses "bring about" correctly? a) She will bring about her new ideas at the meeting.
b) The discovery of antibiotics brought about a revolution in healthcare.
c) Can you bring about the groceries from the car?
d) He tried to bring about his point, but no one listened.
Correct answer: b
Question 2: The phrasal verb "bring about" is closest in meaning to:
a) To support someone.
b) To cancel something.
c) To cause something to happen.
d) To mention something briefly.
Correct answer: c
Question 3: "The aim of the new education policy is to _________ positive changes in student learning outcomes." Which is the most suitable phrasal verb?
a) bring up
b) bring off
c) bring about
d) bring forward
Correct answer: c
Question 4: Which of the following words is a suitable synonym for "bring about" when discussing the implementation of new strategies to achieve a goal?
a) Prevent
b) Halt
c) Effect
d) Ignore
Correct answer: c
Conclusion
Mastering phrasal verbs like "bring about" is a significant step towards achieving fluency and precision in the English language. Understanding its core meaning โ to cause or effect change โ along with its common grammatical structures and collocations, empowers you to articulate complex ideas about causality and development more effectively. We've explored how "bring about" is used to describe the instigation of various outcomes, whether they are societal shifts, technological advancements, or personal achievements. Remember that consistent practice is key; try to incorporate "bring about" into your speaking and writing to truly make it a part of your active English vocabulary.