Phrasal verb "find out"

[Keosera]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #85 "Common English Errors (1)", question 2

She ran over to the commotion to ......... what was happening.

(a) know about
(b) find more
(c) find
(d) find out

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #85 "Common English Errors (1)", answer 2

She ran over to the commotion to find out what was happening.

Correct answer: (d) find out
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why is "find out" the correct answer?

Keosera

[Alan]

Hi,

Find out is a phrasal verb meaning discover and that's what she wanted to do.

A
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English as a Second Language
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[Tiendrébéogo]

Hi Mr Alan,

I understood the explanation of "find out", but why can't we use "know about"?
Thanks, Judith

[Alan]

Hi Judith,

'Find out' means 'discover' in the sense of finding for the first time. 'Know about' really means 'have a kowledge of' which would be something you have all the time.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
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[Tiendrébéogo]

Many thanks for the explanation.
Judith

[Saneta]

Please explain the expression:,,to run over to the commotion''?

[Alan]

Hi Saneta,

'Commotion' usually describes a lot of noise taking place where an incident has happened. 'Run over to the commotion' suggests that you hurry along to where the noise is to find out what is happening.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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