41. English about as a preposition meaning of is translated de; meaning in regard to or concerning it is rendered acerca de; meaning almost, nearly, in the neighborhood of it is cerca de or más o menos.

What are you talking about?

¿De qué habla usted?

I have to write to him about that matter.

Tengo que escribirle acerca de ese asunto.

I have about a hundred.

Tengo cerca de ciento (ciento más o menos).

42. To be about to is rendered estar al punto de or estar para.

When we arrived, the others were about to leave.