deal with — be about a topic
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
to be concerned with or focus on a particular subject or issue.
Say it like a native
Textbook The chapter is concerned with the subject of migration.
Native The chapter deals with migration.
'Deal with' is the natural verb for what a text/topic is about; 'is concerned with the subject of' is wordy.
Pattern: deal with + noun/pronoun
In use
- The documentary deals with climate change and its effects on wildlife.study
- Many university courses deal with topics that are relevant to modern society.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ The book deals about the war.
✓ The book deals with the war.
'Deal WITH' a topic — not 'deal about'.
Common collocations
deal with + topic— with the theme of..., with issues, with the question of..., with history
Don't confuse it
Not about solving a problem, but about the main subject.
Related
- deal with (handle a problem) — Another meaning of 'deal with' is 'handle a problem'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.