Be Pleased To Do vs. Pleased About Something
Cambridge directly records pleased + to-infinitive and pleased about + noun/event, supporting a narrow complement comparison.
Use “pleased to do something” when satisfaction or willingness is expressed through an infinitive action. Use “pleased about something” when the complement names the situation or event producing satisfaction.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| satisfaction, willingness, or positive reaction expressed through an action | pleased + to-infinitive | use the infinitive construction |
| satisfaction directed toward a named situation, event, or result | pleased about + noun phrase | use “about” for the matter producing the feeling |
Quick tests
Action-or-matter test
Is the sentence expressing satisfaction/willingness through an action, or satisfaction about a named matter?
If yes: Use “pleased to + verb” for the action/event construction.
If no: Use “pleased about + noun phrase” for the matter or result.
Caveat: The forms can occur in related contexts, but the complements do different grammatical jobs.
Examples
I am pleased to confirm the booking.
The infinitive expresses the action associated with the positive reaction.
We are pleased about the improved response rate.
“About” introduces the matter producing satisfaction.
She was pleased to hear the update and pleased about its timing.
The sentence shows both relationships.
Further guidance
Core difference
Cambridge documents pleased + to-infinitive and pleased about + noun/event as standard patterns.
Style Boundary
Keep the comparison to the documented structures; do not manufacture an unsupported pleased-about-doing versus pleased-to-do rule.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Pleased (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct learner-dictionary evidence for pleased with, pleased about, pleased that, and pleased + to-infinitive constructions.